Shooting stars of 2023 – who will shine brightest in your sport?

The emerging stars of English sport in 2022 are poised to shine even brighter in 2023. Here Telegraph Sport’s experts pick the breakout talents who will confirm themselves at the very top of international rugby union, football, cricket, tennis, golf and racing over the coming year. 

Rugby: Dan Kelly

Such was the nature of Eddie Jones’ regime as England head coach that most young prospects in the country were called up for a taste of the senior set-up at some stage. Kelly, an Ireland age-grade international, won a sole cap in the summer of 2021 against Canada. Still 21, he is an intriguing talent for a number of reasons. England do not produce many out-and-out inside centres. Tough and resourceful, Kelly fits that bill. He is a defensive leader for Leicester Tigers and a punchy carrier whose passing and kicking games are sharpening. 

After spending a good chunk of 2022 out with injury, he has returned in good form. An existing relationship with Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield should bode well for his hopes of breaking into the England side, too. Borthwick is far too pragmatic to rely on the fitness of Manu Tuilagi, which could also spark a recall for Ollie Lawrence. Indeed, the slate has been wiped clean. Borthwick name-checked the outside backs and the back row as two areas of promise. Ollie Hassell-Collins, Henry Arundell and Adam Radwan will be considered for wing and full-back slots. As for the back row, watch out for Ted Hill, George Martin and Tom Willis. Charlie Morgan

Football: Jude Bellingham 

For those who follow football closely, Jude Bellingham has been a player to watch for quite a few years now. It was only in the last five or six weeks, though, as Bellingham excelled for England at the World Cup in Qatar, that he really started to become a household name across the country. 

Bellingham’s performances in Doha will probably be seen as his “breakthrough moment” in the national consciousness, but 2023 will surely be the year in which he establishes himself as not just a hugely promising footballer, but also a genuine star of the modern game. 

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder does not turn 20 until the end of June. By then, he could be back in England and ready to thrive in the Premier League. He will not come cheap, of course, but this is a player who seems capable of hitting extraordinary heights over the next decade. 

A fresh generation of English talent is on the rise, with Bellingham joined by the likes of Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka. It would be a surprise if these three youngsters, with Bellingham at the heart of it all, do not cement their status as the new faces of English football over the next 12 months. Sam Dean

Cricket: Harry Brook 

It might seem odd that this breakout star is already a World Cup winner who has scored three hundreds in three Tests on an away tour, smashing a series of records in the process. But Brook has further gears to go to and 2023 should be the year that the next big star of English cricket earns wider acclaim.  It seems hard to see Brook being overlooked for the Ashes even with Jonny Bairstow coming straight back into the team. Brook has played just a handful of games for England at home, with most of his success coming on the two tours of Pakistan this year. Next summer, that should change, in all three formats. 

Then there’s the 50-over World Cup. Brook is yet to make his debut in that format, but with Eoin Morgan and (for now) Ben Stokes retired, there are places available in the middle order. With the tournament in India, prowess against spin will be vital, and Brook certainly brings that. Brook has a cheeky manner and a straightforward style that already make him a great interview; he is ripe for England fans to fall in love with. And not just because he already averages 80 in Test cricket. Will Macpherson

Tennis: Jack Draper 

In 2022 Jack Draper climbed from 265 in the rankings to the world’s top 50. Not bad for a 20-year-old. It is hard to believe he was playing Challenger events at the start of the year, picking his way slowly up the tennis pyramid, but finished 2022 pushing some of the top players in the world at the most prestigious tournaments, after overcoming niggling injuries in the first half of the season. 

Sutton-born Draper’s milestones included recording scalps over top ten players like Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, reaching the third round at a major for the first time in New York, and semi-final appearances at Eastbourne and the NextGen Finals. He even pushed world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz to three sets in Basel in October, and he has a powerful game to contend with the very best.

His gradual approach to moving up to the ATP tour has given him the solid foundation now to really push on and his current ranking of 42 will gain him automatic entry to most top events. With the experience he has now, he could well have an even stronger 2023, where a meaningful run at a slam is a realistic goal. Molly McElwee 

Women’s football: Lauren James

If England fans are hoping a new star who was not part of their Euros triumph will emerge as a leading Lioness ahead of 2023’s Women’s World Cup, then look no further than 21-year-old Chelsea forward Lauren James. The skilful youngster didn’t quite make it into Euros contention in 2022 after nursing an injury last season but has quickly become a key member of WSL leaders Chelsea’s starting side this season. Few defences in the WSL can cope with her. 

The former Manchester United player, who is the sister of Chelsea and England men’s right-back, Reece, made her senior Lionesses debut in September, on the day when they mathematically sealed their qualification for the World Cup away in Austria. Now she has five senior caps and, despite being fairly new to the national side, it feels hard to imagine her not being part of Sarina Wiegman’s set-up. 

In particular, in light of England forward Beth Mead’s ACL injury – which leaves Mead’s participation in the World Cup in serious doubt – James could be the flair player to step up in attack. Yet she is also a different kind of player, able to play in midfield too, finding pockets of space, as well as through the middle or, more commonly, cutting inside from wide positions. Most importantly, she has that magical ability to produce something out of nothing, a moment of quality that can turn a game around. Tom Garry

Golf: Jordan Smith

There is something about the David Howells in Jordan Smith and, just like his fellow Englishman, the latter can use turning 30 last month as the springboard to the next level

Back in the mid-Noughties, Howell was a much respected player, but seemingly a tad below top level. But then in 2005, after passing the milestone, he won his second Tour title – after a six-year hiatus – and within 12 months was in the world’s top 10, with Tiger Woods, himself, praising his game.

In October, Smith ended his five-year wait between first and second wins when prevailing with a record 30-under total at the Portugal Masters. Whether he can go on to crack the upper echelons as quickly as Howell must be doubted, but the man from Bath can, at the very least, provide further proof that in golf late-developers sometimes excel.

Smith will embark on his ninth year in the pro ranks and when his season begins in Abu Dhabi in January, his mind must surely be on rising from 78th in the world rankings into the top 50 by the end of March in order to qualify for his first Masters.

This fine ball-striker finished 11th at Yas Island Links in his 2022 opener and proceeded to embark on a campaign marked by consistency. Smith collected eight top 10s in 25 starts, coming runner-up twice before his relentless, wire-to-wire week in Vilamoura that featured him shooting two 62s for an overdue follow-up success.

“It was a long grind for those five seasons,” Smith said. “It’s nice getting the first but then it’s great knowing you can do it again. It’s more down to the pressure I put on myself and now I’ve got my second I can push on for a couple more.”

Smith is in the top 20 highest-ranked Europeans and is a dark horse to be on Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team in Rome in September. He performed well at the Marco Simone course in September – coming 12th in the Italian Open – and has the momentum to launch a qualification bid. James Corrigan

Racing: Daniel Muscutt

One of the success stories of 2022 has been Flat jockey Daniel Muscutt; his first century plus (125) of winners and the full set of Patterns wins, a Group Three (Bahrain Trophy) and Two (Voltigeur) on Deauville Legend and, finally, a Group One (Criterium) on Dubai Mile.

Back in Zimbabwe where he was born, the name Muscutt is synonymous with success. His grandfather, Brian, who was evacuated from Coventry to what was then Rhodesia during the Second World War, was a leading jockey there and in South Africa. His uncle Peter likewise.

Becoming a jockey was always his aim but it was just a case of whether when he levelled out at 5ft 11in he would be too tall but he has mastered keeping his weight in check, he had a terrific work ethic and great hands – very few horses seem to pull with him.

Another alumnus of the Andrew Balding apprentice academy, from 2016 he joined James Fanshawe and though the trainer remains one of his biggest fans, Muscutt started spreading his wings in Newmarket and in 2022 that has suddenly started to pay dividends.

Apart from Fanshawe he rides regularly for James Ferguson, Kevin Philippart de Foy and George Scott. His Group One winner was for Mark Johnston. When you ride over 100 winners in a season the good horses follow as surely as night follows day. Marcus Armytage

Women’s rugby union: Sadia Kabeya 

England’s most exciting flanker in a generation was the breakout star of the Red Roses’ World Cup campaign after a series of impressive performances in the Premier 15s. The player of the match in England’s rout of Fiji early on in the tournament, Kabeya’s raw strength, power and relentlessness in the tackle is unusual for someone so young, but all of her qualities can be traced back to her teenage years as a promising track and field athlete. It is scary to think she is only 20. 

“Sometimes I sit back and think, ‘Wow, it’s crazy how fast everything has happened,’” Kabeya told Telegraph Sport earlier this year, “but I’m someone who takes everything as it comes.” With Marlie Packer having entered the twilight of her career, expect the youngster to nail down a starting spot in England’s squad come the Six Nations. 

Kabeya, who is currently a university student, will be just as preoccupied with getting her hands on a central contract, which she has already set as her long-term goal. The Rugby Football Union would be crazy not to capitalise on such young talent. Fiona Tomas

Which shooting star will shine the most in 2023? Or is there another breakout talent you think deserves a mention? Share your thoughts in the comments section below