A few years ago, Australian cricket was desperate to unearth a world-class all-rounder that could rival Andrew Flintoff. Now we’re spoiled for choice.

Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green are locked in a battle for the No. 6 spot in the Test side, while Marcus Stoinis has been Australia’s white-ball stalwart for nearly a decade.

Yet another all-rounder is set to be unleashed in South Africa this week — and lo and behold, he’s also West Australian.

Aaron Hardie, named in Australia’s initial World Cup squad earlier this month, is preparing to make his international debut during the upcoming white-ball tour against the Proteas.

The uncapped 24-year-old joins a glut of West Australian all-rounders in South Africa, where he will push his case for World Cup selection — and despite being a fair way down the pecking order, parachuting Hardie into Australia’s finalised squad isn’t out of the question.

The 193cm seamer can swing the new ball and bat anywhere in the middle order. He’s proven a nightmare with the Kookaburra on bouncy decks, also capable of clearing the boundary rope with ease when required.

And at first-class level, he averages 42.64 with the bat and 29.09 with the ball. Handy.

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“We saw last year a glimpse of how he can strike the ball so cleanly when he’s batting,” West Australian teammate Lance Morris told Fox Cricket last week.

“I genuinely think he could bat anywhere in the top five if required.

“He swings the new ball, and he can bowl through the middle (overs) really nice. He’s working on some execution stuff as well for deep in the inning. He’s definitely expanding his game.

“I’ve been lucky enough to play a decent amount of cricket with him in pathways. It was pretty early on that WA was like, ‘This guy’s probably going to play for Australia’.

“They put a few eggs in that basket, and that’s fair enough, because it’s paying off.”

SHIELD FINAL HEROICS TURNS HEADS

Hardie made his first-class debut for Western Australia in 2019, but rarely cracked into the Sheffield Shield side courtesy of the plethora of talented all-rounders at their disposal.

However, his breakout knock came during the 2021/22 Sheffield Shield final against Victoria at the WACA — the hosts were in dire straits at 5-110 when Hardie walked to the crease, but the right-hander scored an unbeaten 174, batting for over six hours to ensure Western Australia won the drought-breaking title.

The previous day, he claimed 3-54 while opening the bowling, including the crucial dismissal of Victorian captain Peter Handscomb.

Despite only having ten first-class matches under his belt, Hardie’s all-round heroics prompted an unexpected call-up for last year’s Australia A tour to Sri Lanka, but his selection paid dividends. After cracking 58 (50) in the second one-day match against Sri Lanka A, he scored 62* and 78* in the red-ball fixtures, also taking 3-35 during the first unofficial Test at Hambantota.

Hardie was suddenly in the frame for higher honours — when Green broke his finger during last season’s Boxing Day Test against South Africa, he was among the leading candidates to plug the gap at No. 6 as his like-for-like replacement. However, Matthew Renshaw was preferred for the series finale instead.

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The Perth Scorchers were reigning champions heading into last season’s Big Bash League campaign, and Hardie was fighting for a spot in the club’s stacked starting XI.

However, a season-ending injury for Marsh created a vacancy at No. 3. Despite typically serving as a finisher for the Scorchers, Hardie was elevated to first drop, a decision that proved a masterstroke.

On his 24th birthday, Hardie struck a brutal 33-ball 57 against the Brisbane Heat at Perth Stadium, backing it up with a career-high 90 not out against the Hobart Hurricanes at the same venue the following week.

Hardie finished as the season’s leading run-scorer with 460 runs at 41.91 and a strike rate of 141.10, including four half-centuries. He was named in the BBL Team of the Tournament, helping the Scorchers win their fifth men’s title.

“He excelled last year batting up the top and really took his opportunity batting at No. 3 for the Scorchers. He’s added a string to his bow there,” Marsh told Fox Cricket.

“Whether we see him up the top or batting down the order in a finishing role for Australia, whatever opportunity he gets, he’ll learn as much as he can.

“He’s a great young kid, loves learning and his journey’s only just beginning.

“I’m excited by what’s ahead for him.”

‘REALLY LUCKY’: AUSSIES ARE SPOILED FOR CHOICE

Earlier this year, Hardie was named the Australia A captain for a red-ball tour of New Zealand, scoring a dazzling 115 against the Kiwis in Lincoln. Suddenly, a national call-up beckoned.

If selected, Hardie will make his international debut in Wednesday’s evening T20 against South Africa in Durban, the city where his mother grew up.

“Genuine all-rounders are pretty handy, given the flexibility they give you, particularly in white-ball cricket,” Australian selector George Bailey told reporters this month.

“We make no secret of the fact that we like the ability of our one-day team to have a number of guys who can bat in the top seven, who can bowl some overs. That gives you an ability to structure up differently.

“(Hardie’s) got some good power, so whether that role is finishing off an innings with his power-hitting, or he does get an opportunity a little higher up the order, we’ll see.”

Australia’s World Cup squad will need to be trimmed down to 15 names next month — Hardie is currently on the chopping block because fellow all-rounders Green, Marsh, Stoinis and Sean Abbott are unlikely to miss the cut.

However, a handful of decent performances in South Africa could be enough for Hardie to squeeze his way into the touring party.

“In ODIs, having all-rounders is really important, because you need to find 50 overs,” Australian captain Pat Cummins told Fox Cricket.

“We’re really lucky because at the moment because we have five all-rounders who are in the team for their batting alone, or have played in the ODI side just as batters.

“I don’t think you can have too many (all-rounders). If anything, it just gives you lots of flexibility.”

‘BLUEPRINT’ FOR ACHIEVING THE ‘BOYHOOD DREAM’

Hardie’s growing potential in one-day cricket is a mouth-watering prospect for Australian cricket fans, but earning a coveted baggy green remains his prime objective.

“Test cricket is the goal,” Hardie told Fox Cricket.

“It’s the boyhood dream, so I would love to be able to get there.”

Unfortunately, the most glaring roadblock to Hardie making his Test debut is, ironically, one of his teammates. Green has cemented his status as a future superstar after taking a five-wicket haul during last summer’s Boxing Day Test against South Africa and scoring a century against India in Ahmedabad a couple of months later.

The No. 6 spot in Australia’s Test side is occupied, and could be for the next decade, but Hardie is determined to make his Test debut alongside Green, rather than at his expense.

“Green and I have played in every underage tournament possible together,” Hardie continued.

“We won Under-15 tournaments together, we’ve won Under-19 tournaments together. There’s proof there that you can have two all-rounders in the team.

“I’ve certainly got a long way to go. He knocked the door down in Shield cricket for years, with big hundreds, 200s, 190 he made as well. He set the blueprint for how to get into the team.

“I’ve got to keep knocking the door down.”

The first T20 between South Africa and Australia gets underway at Kingsmead on Thursday morning AEST at 2am.