Preliminary squad for U19 World Cup named

Some tough decisions await Cricket Australia's Youth Selection Panel over the next six weeks, as competition for spots heats up for the 2018 Under 19 Cricket World Cup.

A preliminary squad of 28 players has been revealed for the showpiece ICC event, to be held in New Zealand from January 13 to February 3, selected by the YSP in conjunction with State Talent Managers.

Selection in the final squad is set to be determined by performances at the Under 19 National Championships to be played in Hobart and Launceston from December 4 to 15.

Headlining the squad is Western Australia all-rounder Cameron Green, who took the Sheffield Shield by storm last summer as a 17-year-old, including five wickets in his maiden innings and 12 wickets across three matches at the remarkable average of 18.5.

Six players in the squad have played in the JLT One-Day Cup over the past two summers; recent Victoria debutant Will Sutherland, 2017 CA XI representatives Max Bryant, Jonathan Merlo and Param Uppal (this year), and 2016 CA XI reps Xavier Bartlett and Jason Sangha.

Sutherland, a first-year Bushrangers rookie, and fellow Victorian Ed Newman recently chose not to nominate for this year's AFL draft to pursue a career in cricket.

Another multi-talented Victorian, Zak Evans, was rookie-contracted by the Bushrangers ahead of this season. He would have been eligible for next year's AFL draft.

With 15 available spots for the World Cup, players named in the extended squad of 28 are in pole position. However, players not in this squad may be considered with exceptional performances between now and mid-December.

"There's some exceptional talent coming through the Pathway right now, and it really is going to be a tough task to narrow down our Under 19 World Cup squad to just 15 players," CA Pathways Manager Graham Manou said.

"In this preliminary squad, we have a really good balance of batting and bowling talent and plenty of players with strong all-round capabilities, including guys like Cameron Green, Will Sutherland and Param Uppal, who have all had a taste of domestic cricket in the past 12 months.

"These players have been identified by the State Talent Managers over their efforts at previous events – the Under 19 international series against Sri Lanka in April, last summer's Under 17 and Under 19 National Championships, Rookie Camps and performances at club and Premier Cricket.

"That said, there are some really good players not in this preliminary squad – and there is nothing stopping them from pushing into the World Cup squad.

"Representing Australia is a huge honour, and the next six weeks is about our Under 19 players continuing to put strong performances on the board to push their case for selection, culminating with the Under 19 National Championships in Tasmania in early December."

All bar one member of the Australia Under 19 side which enjoyed a strong series win against Sri Lanka Under 19s in Hobart in April feature in the squad.

With wicketkeeper Lewin Maladay ineligible due to age, glovemen Matthew Gilkes, Baxter Holt and Patrick Rowe have the front-running.

Rowe, 16, is the youngest member of the preliminary squad and represented Victoria Country at the Under 17 National Championships earlier this month.

Bushrangers rookie Mitchell Perry – another multi-talented Victorian sportsman - has been ruled out of contention for the World Cup due to injury, as has fellow Victorian fast bowler Sam Elliott and New South Wales batting all-rounder Tom Sowden.

The final squad will have Matthew Elliott as coach and Ryan Harris as assistant coach, with the duo to keep a close on the Under 19 National Championships alongside the Youth Selection Panel.

Both will be involved with the CA XI at the Under 19 tournament, with their roles reversing as Harris takes the reins.

Australia Under 19 World Cup preliminary squad: Iain Carlisle, Matthew Gilkes, Jason Sangha (ACT/NSW Country); Jack Edwards, Ryan Hackney, Ryan Hadley, Baxter Holt, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Param Uppal, Austin Waugh (NSW Metro); Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Mitchell Connolly, Blake Edwards, Harrison Macoun, Nathan McSweeney, Harrison Wood (QLD); Thomas O'Connell, Lloyd Pope (SA); Jarrod Freeman (TAS); Patrick Rowe (VIC Country); Zak Evans, Jonathan Merlo, Edward Newman, Will Sutherland (VIC Metro); Cameron Green, Bradley Hope, Matthew Spoors (WA)