U17s put foot forward for Baggy Green

After five rounds of the Under-17 National Championships in Brisbane, the best and brightest teenage stars are putting their best foot forward for higher honours.

The Northern Territory achieved one of the all-time great upsets by beating the highly-fancied NSW Metropolitan team, a day after they had beaten the best from Victoria's country region.

It has earned NT a place in Monday's quarter-finals, where they will match up against Victoria Metropolitan. The NSW Metro team play Western Australia, while Queensland, who are also proving a powerhouse so far, play the combined ACT/NSW Country team. 

A Cricket Australia XI made up of the best of the talent from the Under-15 National Championships have been far from embarrassed playing an age group up, having won three of their five matches and play South Australia today.

The U17 CA XI includes Austin Waugh, the son of former Test captain Steve, who has shown promise with his performances to date. An unbeaten 48 with the bat in a win over WA, and three wickets at 23 are tidy performances that mark him out as a player to watch in future and not just for his famous surname.

The CA XI team is part of major shake-up the national championships format received ahead of this summer, with added incentive to perform for the players. Like the team contesting the Under-17 titles, CA will field a composite side of 16-year-olds in the Under-19 tournament to be held in Adelaide in December, coached by former Test fast bowler Ryan Harris.

Quick Single: National Championship home

The CA XI team replaces the former 'Team of the Championships' that in the past was picked as a non-playing squad based on statistical performance.

CA's Executive General Manager of Team Performance Pat Howard said the new format could potentially see a player go through all of the pathway programs in one year.

"From every tournament comes an opportunity to play at a next level, from the Under 17s a team will be picked by the talent management group and they will go on to the Under-19 National Championships," Howard said.

"The next Ricky Ponting might only be 15 and might be able to go through the whole chain in one year … there is going to be a huge opportunity for these players and the states as a collective."

At the midway point of the Under-17 National Championships, we take a look at the outstanding performers so far and potential candidates who could make up the inaugural under-19 CA XI.

Ryan Hackney (NSW Metropolitan)

A walk-up start to open the batting, not only scored an unbeaten century on day one of the carnival but followed it up three days later with another unbeaten ton. A classy left-handed batsman who shows poise and shines brightest in a team full of stars, the Penrith young-gun may have already booked a ticket to Adelaide.

Stats: Runs: 253, Ave: 126.5, 100s: 2, HS: 118*

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Hackney has two centuries from four matches // Brody Grogan

Nathan Murphy (Cricket Australia XI)

Three half-centuries in three games, including one on Allan Border Field in front of Graeme Hick, Greg Chappell and Troy Cooley did little to hurt his chances to earn a call up for his third representative tournament this year. The Victorian keeps a calm head and can be relied on at the top of the order; a key to his game is knowing where his stumps are at all times.

Stats: Runs: 160, Ave: 40.0, 50s: 3, HS: 52

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Murphy had a blistering start with three fifties in three innings // Brody Grogan

Max Bryant (Queensland)

The likeness to a young Ricky Ponting is astounding, despite a small stature, pounces on anything short yet bowl too full and expect to be punished over long on, like he did in his unbeaten 83 against the current CA XI, a knock that included five sixes alongside eight boundaries off just 69 balls. Not a lock yet due to the run-scoring prowess of his closest competitors but showed enough in his monster innings to gain the attention of the selectors. Definitely needs a few more big scores before the tournament is out.

Stats: Runs: 128, Ave: 32.00, 50s: 1, HS: 83

Jason Sangha (Cricket Australia XI)

Another product of the School Sports Australia (SSA) tournament, Sangha’s tournament got off to a disastrous start, slipping over during a regulation single and being run out without scoring. He bounced back in a big way scoring two fifties on the trot in quick time, going at a strike rate of 90.8. Another string to the bow is his ability to bat under pressure, twice coming in during dicey periods and flourishing. Paired with his national championships for and his SSA form is his international experience, having played in England recently. Like Bryant though, will need some more runs to cement his spot.

Stats: Runs: 148, Ave: 37.0, 50s: 2, HS: 69

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Jason Sangha has been the pick of the Cricket Australia XI batsman, dominating the earlier SSA carnival in June // Brody Grogan

Jonathan Merlo (Victorian Metropolitan)

The all-rounder of the team, Merlo hits a big ball. His unbeaten 114* against Tasmania put him well and truly ahead of the pack, monstering the bowling attack with more than half of his score coming in boundaries. The tall-Victorian also leads all comers with nine wickets at a handy 9.6. Could use some more runs but his bowling alone will guarantee him a spot.

Stats: Runs: 127, Ave: 63.5 , 100s:1 , HS: 114* / Wkts: 9, Ave: 9.6, Econ: 3.6, BBI: 3-20

Ryan Meppem (ACT/NSW Country)

Four innings, four starts for the Narrabi right-hander. The last of the recognised batting positions, at this stage Meppem edges out ACT/NSW teammate Matthew Gilkes. Bowls handy spin and has composure at the crease. Has the potential to score big runs in the middle order which most certainly spikes the selectors interest.

Stats: Runs: 155, Ave: 51.7 , 50s: 1, HS: 72 / Wkts: 6, Ave: 27.0, Econ: 2.9, BBI: 2-39

Alex Reardon (South Australia)

In as the wicket-keeper and one of only two captains in the predicted team, Reardon just edges out Northern Territory gloveman Sam Milne whose nine catches are a tournament high. Reardon can provide much needed runs in the lower order and his leadership experience is invaluable to the young side.

Stats: Runs: 46, Ave: 28.5, 50s: 0, HS:46 / Ct: 4, St: 3

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South Australia captain Alex Reardon has led his team into the finals // Brody Grogan

Dylan Mullen (Northern Territory)

Mullen is a rare breed, he is an elite middle-order batsman, he bowls tight leg-spin and he captains giving him all of the necessary attributes required to succeed at the highest level. The only problem for the Northern Territory skipper is his age at the time of the Under 19 tournament, which may hinder selection in the Cricket Australia XI but his form almost guarantees his a spot as a bottom-age player in the NT set up come December.

Stats: Runs: 181, Ave: 36.2, 50s: 2, HS: 64 / Wkts: 7, Ave: 15.1, Econ: 3.4, BBI: 4-42

Shubham Bhargave (Cricket Australia XI)

Bhargave just edges out ACT/NSW Country spinner Tom Englebrecht for the tweaker’s position, his off-spin has been dead-on-point and his first two games yielded 5-17 off 10.3 overs. His latter two games haven’t been as damaging but the potential to hone the next Nathan Lyon is there if he gets the overs he requires to chisel away at the finer points of finger spin.

Stats: Wkts: 6, Ave: 10.8, Econ: 3.2, BBI: 3-4

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Shubham Bhargave (number 14) and his teammates before storms hit Queensland on day two // Brody Grogan

Zachary Schwarz (South Australia)

The left-arm medium-pace bowler takes the new ball in this side, with the ability to swing the ball and contain, holding the lowest economy rate of the entire tournament’s recognised bowlers. His spell of 4-9 off nine overs against Tasmania was devastatingly good.

Stats: Wkts: 7, Ave: 6.7, Econ: 1.8, BBI: 4-9

Joshua Chojnowski (Western Australia)

Fremantle District’s right-arm medium-pace bowler is a tough prospect to face, moving the ball and offering little to the batsmen in the ways of scoring options. Didn’t look like capitalising on his wicket taking ability before a spurt against the Cricket Australia XI saw him capture 5-4 off six overs in a losing cause. Will be right on the selectors radar come Thursday Night.

Stats: Wkts: 7, Ave: 8.7, Econ: 2.4, BBI: 5-4