They play to their full potential, they play with all their might, and they play with a sense of fire and elan: who are the best Under-19 players from Australia who can carve a successful future by performing in the Under-19 World Cup?
Needless to say but the Australian team has been a pioneer among those cricketing nations that developed Sports from the grassroots level. Cricket as a sport has a solid foundation with varied levels that are in place through which most of the cricketer’s advance through the club cricket, shield cricket, BBL level matches. The Aussies have a proven history of nurturing teen sensation and talented cricketers who have become the pioneers of the game and world-renowned players to date, like Steven Smith and many more cricketers.
This tournament tests their dominance and asserts Aussies’ status as one of the successful teams in the teen tournament so far.
So despite a blip in the opening Under-19 World Cup contest, who are the best Under-19 players from Australia?
JAKE FRASER-MCGURK
Truth be told, there couldn’t have been a better figure to lead a young and promising Australian side.
As seen in the opening contest against the West Indies, the fluent right-hander played a very critical, “Smith-Esque” knock, in which for the sheer batting failure of his side, the contest was amplified to being one between the West Indies and Jake Fraser McGurk.
The captain of the U-19 team is the only player to have hit a fifty in his debut in the Shield and Marsh Cup(s). Armed with only a year worth of experience in the domestic circuit, he rose through the ranks to debut for Melbourne Renegades in BBL as a substitute player. His ability to finish matches keeps his position in batting-order stationed in the middle-order. He can both anchor and fire up useful runs when needed.
BRAD SIMPSON
Brad Simpson has already been under the radar with his top-notch accuracy and pace. Brad looks up to Kane Richardson as his sporting hero, someone he considers an inspiration to become the ‘next big seamer’. His accuracy came into prominence when in a U-16 match, Simpson was pivotal in defending 10-runs and picking the final wickets while handing over an astounding win from the clutches of the Pakistan team. This solid core team (seam department) will be an asset if their pace and accuracy are used to benefit the team. The pace attack will also be aided by another bunch of emerging youngsters like Liam Marshall Connor Sully and Matthew Williams.
TANVEER SANGHA
A specialist off-spinner, among the best Under-19 players from Australia, Sangha, who rendered key blows to West Indies in the team’s opening campaign, actually made his mark in the U-16 match against Pakistan.
Sangha is a specialist bowler in the middle and death overs, whose ability and skills that change the course of the match. An evolving and an acclaimed game-changer, he will be the one to lead the spin attack along with other young spinners like Todd Murphy and Copper Connoly. Sangha will draw useful experience in having been the development Rookie of the Sydney Thunder during the 2018-BBL season.
OLLIE DAVIES
The explosive and destructive batsman proved his worth and cemented his place in the side with a stupendous knock of double-hundred in the U-19 National championships. He hit a record 17 sixes in an inning laced by brute power, by which he grabbed the attention of selectors and paving way for his selection to the U-19 World cup. He also captains NSW- Metro in the domestic circuits that will also aid Jake in the captaincy duties. He is also a sharp fielder as well as a handy bowler when needed. The course of the batting attack towards the end of the innings will depend on how he will finish the matches.
PATRIK ROWE
The glove duties will be held by Patrik Rowe, among the best Under-19 players from Australia. His consistency with the bat is most sought after, and shall hopefully emerge as a key aspect linked to Australia’s success. His consecutive scores above fifty in the U-17 championships is a career break-through, something that brought him to pre-Under-19 eminence. The consistency and technique in his batting style make him one of the dependable batsman-cum-wicket-keeper in the current setup.
Australia have a balanced and powerful all-round attack and they’d be hoping to draw strength from one another in what promises to be a long but promising tournament. The only question now is whether some of these best Under-19 players from Australia can make it count?
