In this T20 age of switch-hits and ramp-shots and flat-batted heaves, Will Bosisto is something of an anomaly. The 19-year-old middle-order batsman is an old-school grafter, an occupier of the crease who guards his wicket like his Gen-Y brethren guard their Twitter accounts. But as Australian cricket begins to question a system that’s rewarded a 20-ball 50 higher than a six-hour century, Bosisto may just find his retro style back in vogue.

What’s His Story?

As the great grandson of Ernie Jones, the fearsome Australian quick who played 19 Tests between 1894 and 1902, it could be said that cricket was always in Bosisto’s genes. Born and bred in the western suburbs of Perth, his childhood revolved around cricket in summer, footy in winter. His earliest memories are of wandering down to the park at the bottom of his street and knocking a cricket ball around with his old man.

As a schoolboy at Perth’s illustrious Scotch College, his rise through the ranks followed a predictable trajectory: strong performances for state U17 and U19 teams led to inclusion in the Australian U19 squad. It was at last year’s U19 World Cup in Townsville, however, that Bosisto marked himself as a truly special talent. As captain of an Australian team that was edged in the final by India, his six innings yielded 276 runs.

Significantly, Bosisto was only dismissed once in those six innings – and that lone dismissal was a direct-hit run-out.

Secondly, his runs were invariably gathered after a top-order collapse. Against Bangladesh in the quarters, the Australians were reeling at 3/11 before Bosisto ground out a chanceless 71, leading his men to a five-wicket victory. Against India in the final, they were 3/38 before he fashioned a gritty 87, guiding his team to a defendable total of 225.

The challenge for Bosisto now is scoring consistent runs against mature attacks. Last season, a lone Ryobi Cup appearance for the Warriors resulted in a duck (another run-out), while a handful of matches for the WA U23s in the Futures League saw varied returns.

Who’s He Like?

Predictably, Bosisto names Perth’s favourite son, Michael Hussey, as his cricketing idol: “I just admire how he goes about his cricket.” True to his words, the youngster approaches his game with an obsessive energy that would do Mr Cricket proud. “I’m a bit of a perfectionist,” he admits. “Preparation’s a big focus for me.”

According to Lindsay Flinn, Bosisto’s coach in the under-age WA teams, the youngster’s mental fortitude is reminiscent of Perth’s second-favourite son, Justin Langer. “He just seems to get himself in, deal with pressure, and remain calm. Justin Langer used to thrive under pressure, and Will’s got those same qualities. The tougher it gets, the better he’ll play.” Bosisto concurs, pointing to his calmness under pressure as “my greatest strength at the moment”.

Indeed, there’s also a whiff of Langer about Bosisto’s technique at the crease. Like a young JL, Bosisto’s tendency is to push onto the back foot and cuff the ball through point or turn it off his hip through mid-wicket.

It’s a technique that has led some to brand the youngster a “limited” batsman. According to Flinn, the criticism held water in Bosisto’s junior days (“he didn’t have a huge range of shots, put it that way”), but in recent seasons a short-arm sweep and a muscular jab through the V have bolstered his repertoire.

And the lad himself is keenly aware that, if he’s to succeed in the modern cricketing landscape, it’s a repertoire that’s going to need further expansion. “I’m certainly not content with just being a longer form player,” he says. “I want to play at the highest level in all three formats.”

What Do They Say?

“He plays within his limitations. There're plenty of batsmen out there who get pretty 20s and 30s, but that won’t get you too far. It might go alright in the IPL, but it won’t go too far in Test cricket. Don’t forget, we’re producing cricketers here to play cricket for Australia at the Test level.”

− Stuart Law, Australia U19 coach.

“As a coach you get quite a few kids who are very talented, but are let down by their temperament. With Will, his temperament is his strength. He’s a rarity.”

− Lindsay Flinn, WACA high-performance coach.

photo by  Getty Images