Kentís Adam Ball looks to win Under-19 World Cup with England

By Charles Randall

England face the very tricky job of winning the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand this month for the first time since Rob Key’s day in 1998, but at least they might avoid the side with the most impressive blood-line pedigree, Australia, who boast two players with Test cricketer fathers.

Alister McDermott, son of 71-Test Craig, and the captain Mitchell Marsh, son of 50-Test Geoff, carry well known names into the tournament, and Nicholas Buchanan — son of John, Australia’s most successful coach — could no doubt draw on expert fatherly advice. They should provide intriguing opposition for England if both countries can reach the final in Christchurch on Jan 30.

Perhaps Adam Ball (pictured)will emulate Key as a member of a winning team; many players have tried and many have failed. In 2008 Kent supplied Sam Northeast and James Goodman to England for the Malaysia tournament, with no progress to the knockout stage. Goodman might have made another attempt this year, but he was not selected after the Bangladesh tour in October. Ball is young enough for 2012 to join the small group to play in two World Cup tournaments — Samit Patel, Tim Bresnan and fellow Yorkshireman Greg Wood.

India, rather than Australia, start as tournament favourites without any players with famous fathers and they are in Group D with England. The two countries are scheduled to meet again in the semi-final if both emerge from their pool games and quarter-finals. The other two sides in Group D are Afghanistan, potential giant-killers, and Hong Kong, minnows captained by Jamie Atkinson, who made his first class debut for Durham University UCCE last April.

New Zealand have two Bracewells, Doug and Michael, in their squad — both nephews of Gloucestershire’s coach John Bracewell — but even as host nation they are not regarded as likely winners.

England, with their Sussex coaching team of Mark Robinson and Carl Hopkinson, are wisely taking two weeks to acclimatise in New Zealand, starting in the fine city of Wellington before flying onwards to Christchurch.

Group A: India, England, Afghanistan, Hong Kong

Group B: South Africa, Australia, Ireland, USA

Group C: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada

Group D: Pakistan, Bangladesh, West Indies, Papua New Guinea

Group A

India

Ashok Menaria (captain), Akshath Reddy, Gaurav Jathar, Harmeet Singh, Harpreet Singh, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkad, K.L. Rahul, Manan Sharma, Mandeep Singh, Mayank Agarwal, Sandeep Sharma, Saurav Netrawalkar, Sufiyan Shaikh, Zahid Ali.

England

Azeem Rafiq (Yorks, captain), Adam Ball (Kent), Michael Bates (Hants), Paul Best (Warwicks), Danny Briggs (Hants), Nathan Buck (Leics), Jos Buttler (Somerset), Chris Dent (Gloucs), Matthew Dunn (Surrey), Ateeq Javid (Warwicks), Jack Manuel (Worcs), David Payne (Gloucs), Joe Root (Yorks), Ben Stokes (Durham), James Vince (Hants).

Afghanistan

Shir Mohammad Shirzai (captain), Aftab Alam, Afsar Khan, Anwar Anwari, Ayub Khan, Hamza Hotak, Hashmat Shaidi, Izat Dawlatzai, Javed Ahmadi, Khushal Rasooli, M.S. Aminzai, Murad Ali, Noor-ul-Haq, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zakiullah Zak.

Hong Kong

Jamie Atkinson (captain), Aditya Kanthan, Aizaz Khan, Ashish Gadhia, Asif Khan, Harmeet Singh, Irfan Ahmed, Niaz Ali, Nizakat Khan, Mark Chapman, Max Tucker, Alex Smith, Shakeel Haq, Vikash Vaswani, Waqas Barkat.

Group B

South Africa

Josh Richards (captain), Colin Ackermann, Cody Chetty, Dale Deeb, Rabian Engelbrecht, Dominic Hendricks, Graham Hume, Simon Khomari, Kirk Wernars, Samuel Mofokeng, Bokang Mosena, Malcolm Nofal, Jerry Nqolo, Stephan Smith, David White.

Australia

Mitchell Marsh (captain), Tim Armstrong, Tom Beaton, Nick Buchanan, Jackson Coleman, Luke Doran, Ben Dougall, Jason Floros, Josh Hazlewood, Alex Keath, Nic Maddinson, Alister McDermott, Kane Richardson, Tom Triffitt, Adam Zampa.

Ireland

Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Ben Ackland, Jordan Coghlan, Adrian D“Arcy, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, Graeme McCarter, Graham McDonnell, Lee Nelson, Stuart Poynter, Eddie Richardson, James Shannon, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Craig Young.

United States

Shiva Vashishat (captain), Salman Ahmad, Regis Burton, Ryan Corns, Muhammad Asad Ghous, Naseer Jamali, Abhijit Joshi, Azurdeen Mohammed, Saqib Saleem, Gregory Sewdial, Yash Shah, Hammad Shahid, Sammi Siddiqui, Steven Taylor, Henry Wardley.

Group C

New Zealand

Craig Cachopa (captain), Corey Anderson, Tom Blundell, Harry Boam, Doug Bracewell, Michael Bracewell, Dane Cleaver, Jono Hickey, Tim Johnston, Tom Latham, Jimmy Neesham, Bevan Small, Mattie Thomas, Logan Van Beek, Ben Wheeler.

Sri Lanka

Chatura Peiris (captain), Andri Berenger, Banuka Rajapaksa, Charith Jayampathi, Danishka Gunathilleke, Denuwan Rajakaruna, Kasun Madushanka, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Kushan Apputhantri, Kankanamge, Lahiru Jayaratne, Maduka Liyanapathiranage, Rumesh Buddika, Rushan Jaleel, Saranga Rajaguru, Udara Jayasundera.

Zimbabwe

Dylon Higgins (captain), Stephen Chimhamhiwa, Gary Chirimuuta, Tendai Chatara, Scott Daly, Andrew Lindsay, Natsai M“Shangwe, Dean Mashawidza, Peter Moor, Simon Mugava, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Richard Muzhange, Calum Price, Nathan Waller, Mazvita Zambuko.

Canada

Rustam Bhatti (captain), Manny Aulakh, Parth Desai, Darius D“Souza, Ruvindu Gunasekara, Hardik Kotak, Nitish Kumar, Usman Limbada, Zain Mahmood, Asif Manjra, Hiral Patel, Riyazkhan Pathan, Harpreet Singh, Arsalan Qadir, Hamza Tariq.

Group D

Pakistan

Azeem Ghumman (captain), Ahmad Shahzad, Ahsan Ali, Anop Ravi, Fayyaz Butt, Hammad Azam, Kaleem Sana, Muhammad Babar Azam, Muhammad Naeem, Muhammad Waqas, Rameez Aziz, Raza Hassan, Sarmad Bhatti, Shahzaib Ahmed, Usman Qadir.

Bangladesh

Mahmudul Hasan (captain), Alauddin Babu, Amit Majumder, Anamul Haque, Arman Badsha, Hasan Raju, Kamrul Islam, Muminul Hoque Showrav, Nur Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Saikat Ali, Shabbir Rahman, Shaker Ahmed, Soumya Sarkar, Tasamul Hoque.

West Indies

Andre Creary (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Nelson Bolan, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Yannic Cariah, Akeem Dewar, Shane Dowrich, Nicholson Gordon, Trevon Griffiths, Jason Holder, Keon Joseph, Evin Lewis, Yannick Ottley, Jomel Warrican.

Papua New Guinea

John Reva (captain), Charles Amini, Sese Bau, Jonathan Diho, Raymond Haoda, Steven Eno, Jason Kila, Timothy Mou, Vagi Oala, Rogeauka Roge, Heni Siaka, Lega Siaka, Lega Tau, Toua Tom, Tony Ura.

SCHEDULE

Jan 15

Group A: India v Afghanistan, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln

Group B: South Africa v Ireland, Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown

Group C: Zimbabwe v Canada, Queen Elizabeth II Park, Christchurch

Group D: Pakistan v West Indies, Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

Jan 16

Group A: ENGLAND v Hong Kong, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln

Group B: Australia v USA, Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown

Group C: New Zealand v Canada, Lincoln

Group D: Bangladesh v Papua New Guinea, Fitzherbert Pk, Palmerston N

Jan 17

Group A: India v Hong Kong, Hagley Park, Christchurch

Group B: Australia v Ireland, Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown

Group C: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln

Group D: Bangladesh v West Indies, Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

Jan 18

Group A: ENGLAND v Afghanistan, Queen Elizabeth II Park, Christchurch

Group B: South Africa v USA, Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown

Group C: Sri Lanka v Canada, Lincoln

Group D: Pakistan v Papua New Guinea, Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

Jan 19

Group A: Afghanistan v Hong Kong, Hagley Park, Christchurch

Group B: Ireland v USA, Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown

Group C: New Zealand v Zimbabwe, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln

Group D: West Indies v Papua New Guinea, Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

Jan 20

Group B: South Africa v Australia, Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown

Group C: New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Queen Elizabeth II Park, Christchurch

Group D: Pakistan v Bangladesh, Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

Jan 21

Group A: ENGLAND v India, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln

Jan 23

Quarter-finals: Rangiora and Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln

Jan 24

Quarter-finals: Rangiora and Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln

Jan 25

Semi-finals: Rangiora and Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln

Jan 30

FINAL: Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln