Ed Cowan

A left handed opening batsman, Edward Cowan started competitive cricket at a young age when he made a record 218 against ACT at the age of 14, a knock which took him to the Under 17 New South Wales Championships. He continued to impress at the young age, and was soon selected in the Under 19 squad for the World Cup in Sri Lanka, but struggled to find a regular place in the strong NSW senior team. The biggest turning point in Cowan's career came in 2009 when he shifted base to Tasmania. In the Sheffield Shield season that year, Cowan piled up 957 runs at an average of over 50, which included his career best 225 against South Australia. He grew from strength to strength as he got two more centuries in the first class tournaments that followed. The strong performances earned him a spot in the Australia A squad to play against Sri Lanka A in June 2010. Cowan celebrated the call up with a century and Australia A went on to win the series.

Cowan hit top form in the latter part of 2011, when he went on to make four centuries in as many games just before India's tour to Australia. With regular opener Shane Watson injured, Cowan's national call up was only a matter of time and he sealed it with a century against the Indians in the practice games. He made his Test debut at the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, and became the 18th Australian opener to score a half century (68) on debut. He played all 4 Tests of the series (which Australia won 4-0) and had a decent outing, with an average of around 35 including 2 half-centuries.

Cowan's strongest features are his robust technique and passive style of play. At a time when Australia are struggling to find stable batsmen at the top of the order, Cowan's solidity is a welcome change. His style of play complements partner David Warner's aggressive batting, and the pair tasted success in the series against India. However, he lost his place after a while and was preferred as the first change should any of the main players be injured. He major overseas tours include West Indies and India apart from one-off Ashes game that he played at Nottingham in 2013.

His style of play did not convince any of the T20 franchises and Cowan doesn't play any of the T20 tournaments, including the Big Bash League.

Off field activities: Ed Cowan is known only for his batting skills in the cricket fraternity but when it comes to off field activities, he is an able all rounder. He is a passionate writer and has penned down a book titled "In the Firing line", his diary of the 2010/11 Sheffield Shield season. He also has a commerce degree, did his masters in applied finance and worked as an analyst for an investment bank.

By Karthik Lakshmanan