Former Australian fast-bowling great Glenn McGrath has called on Australia's emerging pace bowlers to seize their chances as the celebrated trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood enter the twilight of their international careers. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, McGrath stressed that a generational transition is inevitable — and that the window for young bowlers to stake their claim is opening now.

The Aging Core and What It Means

Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood are all in their mid-to-late thirties, and McGrath acknowledged uncertainty about how much longer the trio can sustain their output at the highest level. 'Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins are all in their mid-to-late thirties, aren't they? You wonder how long they can go,' McGrath said. With at least 20 Tests scheduled over the next 14 months, Australia's pace depth will face a stern examination.

The Ashes Incentive

McGrath framed the upcoming Ashes series in England as a powerful motivator for both the veterans and their would-be successors. 'The Ashes is coming up next year in England, and Australia have not won an Ashes in England outright since 2001. Hopefully, there's incentive for the boys to keep going, but there's going to be that turnover,' he said. The series represents a rare opportunity for Australia to end a more than two-decade drought on English soil — and for younger bowlers to audition for a historic assignment.

Names in the Frame

McGrath identified several candidates who could emerge as genuine successors. He pointed to Spencer Johnson for his raw pace, while also noting that Nathan Ellis and Xavier Bartlett represent the next tier in white-ball cricket. 'Guys like Spencer Johnson have some real pace, but whether they've had enough opportunity?' McGrath said. He also flagged the Pakistan tours — held before and after the World T20 — as a missed chance for the younger group to press their cases.

Looking beyond the white-ball pipeline, McGrath highlighted Will Sutherland, Jack Edwards, and Brendan Doggett as red-ball prospects with genuine potential. 'Plenty of young guys there, but we'll wait and see if someone really puts their hands up,' he added.

Sheffield Shield as the Proving Ground

McGrath was emphatic that domestic cricket remains the ultimate filter. He credited the Sheffield Shield competition for consistently producing quality fast bowlers, noting that South Australia — back-to-back Shield champions — had seen several of their pacers make an impression. 'A lot of it comes back to Shield cricket, I think. State cricket in Australia is quite competitive... There's going to be opportunities out there, and we'll see once they get there,' he said. Consistent performances at the Shield level, McGrath believes, will be the clearest signal of who is ready for international demands.

What Comes Next

Australia's pace resources will be stress-tested over a packed international calendar that includes at least 20 Tests in the next 14 months. Whether one — or more — of the younger cohort can cement a regular spot alongside the experienced trio, or eventually replace them, will be among the defining selection conversations in Australian cricket over the coming year.