This summer will be a season of change for Australian cricket, with new faces to make more of an impact than ever. With doors opening at every turn, we take a look at the the rising stars who could break out at Test and BBL level.

The Steve Smith comparisons have already begun.

The baby face, the blonde hair, the fidgets, the runs – Josh Philippe has plenty of similarities with the banned Australian captain.

The swashbuckling Scarborough opener has a fearless approach to his batting and doesn’t mind taking the bowlers on from the get-go, highlighted by his brilliant 92-ball 88 against a strong England pace attack during an Ashes tour match at the WACA last summer.

He was a little-known 21-year-old yet to play a first-class game when he belted 16 boundaries against Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and co in a stunning knock.

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Fast forward a little under 12 months and Philippe has became a regular at the top of the Warriors’ batting order, forming a formidable opening partnership with gloveman Josh Inglis in the JLT One-Day Cup.

He made the most of the absence of Australian representatives Shaun and Mitch Marsh and Ashton Agar to plunder 236 runs, at an average of 39 and a decent strike-rate of 120, including three half-centuries.

Philippe then transferred his form into the Sheffield Shield arena, proving he can adjust his game to the longer format too.

Camera Icon Josh Philippe of Western Australia looks on after playing a shot during the JLT Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and Victoria. Credit: AAPIMAGE

“I’m not surprised at all, the talent was obvious from the first time I saw him come down to Scarborough,” Scarborough coach and former WA opener Wes Robinson said.

“His ball-striking ability, his footwork, his ability to get his hands through the ball and what’s been the most impressive thing during his time at Scarborough is his ability to hit good balls for four that normal batsmen would block.

“His ability to score off good balls is probably what sets him apart and what really stood out to me over the last season-and-a-bit.”

While his wicket-keeping is yet to be called upon by WA, it may come in handy in the future.

He had three catches and a stumping, to go with a match-winning 53-ball 57 against a South Africa pace attack led by Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada in last month’s Prime Minister’s XI clash in Canberra, to earn player-of-the-match honours.

The Perth Scorchers may live to regret the decision not to put Philippe on their 18-man Big Bash roster this summer after he signed with the Sydney Sixers last week.

He was originally going to stay in Perth as a local replacement player before changing his mind and joining the men in magenta on a one-year deal, something Scorchers coach Adam Voges described as a “real shame”.

“We thought he was going to be a part of the Scorchers this year but the reality was he didn’t have a contract in front of him and there was a better one (offer) that came along,” he said.

Senior WA players are excited by Philippe’s potential, with Test batsman Shaun Marsh confident he has a “really bright future”.

“He’s an amazing young talent, he’s fearless and I love the way he goes about it and takes the game on,” Marsh said.

“He’s got a really good technique as well. He’s got a really bright future.

“He’s a really good young kid and loves learning and playing so it’s exciting, not only for WA cricket but hopefully Australian cricket in the future as well.”