Connolly confident in Aussies' Cup chances after crucial ton

Australia Under-19 World Cup captain Cooper Connolly will enter his side's opening group match against hosts the West Indies full of confidence, after scoring a brilliant 117 in a warm-up match against India earlier this week.

The innings of 125 deliveries included 14 boundaries and four sixes to send an ominous warning to the rest of his competition, with Connolly expected to be a standout performer in his second U19 campaign.

While disappointed to lose by nine wickets in Tuesday's warm-up, Connolly said it was the perfect lead-in from a personal point of view to get some quality time in the middle.

"It was good to get some runs after being out of the game for a month, so to get out there and score some runs was pretty good," Connolly said on Wednesday.

"Yesterday was a reality check for us against one of the strongest sides, but our team is checking up really well and I think we're in good shape for the first game."

As if the Western Australian needs any more assurance of his ability at the top-level heading into Saturday morning's opener, he will find it simply by looking at his opponent.

As the sole bottom-age player during Australia's 2020 campaign, Connolly only played two matches, however he certainly made the most of his limited opportunities.

Batting at six in the fifth-placed playoff, Connolly made a rapid 64 off 53 deliveries against the West Indies, with the now top-order batter elated to be facing them once again in the first game of the tournament.

"I might have a little bit of an edge against the West Indies, but I've sort of put that to the side and just started fresh and just tried to play my game," Connolly said.

"I just want to play how I played against India and score some runs for Australia."

It was a surprise to few that the left-hander was announced captain of the squad earlier this month, with his experience at the previous edition of the tournament and promise in senior domestic cricket putting him in the top echelon of Australia's junior cricketers.

It's not the first time that Connolly has taken on the captaincy in the green and gold either, leading the Cricket Australia XI at the U19 National Championships in 2019 – the last time they were held – an experience the teenager says he's reflected upon in the lead-up to his time in the Caribbean.

"To get the captaincy, that's unbelievable and I'm so proud of myself, and mum and dad back home are really proud and I'm ready to go lead my country," he said.

"From that experience (2019 National Championships), I took the quality of players I was playing against, they were obviously really tough opponents.

"We played against the likes of Jake Fraser-McGurk and Lachie Hearne; blokes who played in the last (U19) World Cup.

"I was just trying to learn on the go and see what I could do to help us win and improve as cricketers."

Connolly has achieved plenty in the two years that have passed since he last represented his nation, receiving a Perth Scorchers contract and playing Second XI cricket for his state, a remarkable achievement given the pandemic has put much representative cricket on hold.

These experiences alongside WA's best, as well as leaning on the likes of previous U19 captain Mackenzie Harvey and the mercurial Fraser-McGurk for advice has left Connolly primed to take yet another step.

"Back then (2020 U19 World Cup) I was a little small 16-year-old that not everyone knew and since then I've upped my mindset and power a little bit," he said.

"I just feel like I've developed a lot over the last couple of years and have been working with my batting coach just to improve in every area.

"I feel like from that World Cup, from Macca (Mackenzie Harvey) I can just take coolness and his ability to win games by his captaincy.

"I've been in touch with Jake a little bit and just keeping in contact with everyone … but obviously they're pretty busy with Big Bash stuff going on."

It won’t be easy for Australia who have had a less-than-ideal preparation for the carnival, only recently arriving in the Windies and having to get to know each other along the way.

Australia's preparation, with only the one warm-up game under their belt, is in a stark contrast to Sri Lanka's who will have played 18 games together since September by the time the two sides meet on January 17.

Connolly said his side will need to be switched on from the outset to finish top two in their group and move onto the Super League finals.

While acknowledging a few more days and games together as a squad would've been a significant boost to the team's chemistry, Connolly said he was confident he could lead Australia to their first title since 2010.

"We all flew at the same time and that was the first time we met," he said.

"It's obviously pretty tough; we don't know what each other is like but I feel like over the past week we've grown and got to know each other.

"It was tough early on, we had a long time on planes and stopping over and then a couple of days quarantine here, but I feel like we're ready to go and we've got another training tomorrow to try to prepare for the game against the West Indies.

"I feel like it's shaping up well for us. We're in a good space at the minute to start in a couple of days."

Growing up on the true pitches of WA, similar to those he experienced in South Africa where the 2020 U19 World Cup took place, Connolly said it would be a new challenge on the traditionally spin-friendly wickets in the Caribbean.

But with a free mind and a willingness to adapt, Connolly said he already felt at home in Guyana and is looking to play with his natural flair no matter the situation.

"I can just take not stressing out too much about playing and just trying to be myself in the nets … I was getting really stressed out and agitated (at the previous World Cup)," he said.

"We've had a couple of trainings now and it's been low, slow and turned.

"But going out there yesterday on a wicket that we'll play on in a couple of days, that wicket looked pretty good.

"I wouldn't say like Australian conditions, but it looked pretty similar. It had a bit of pace and bounce in it and towards the middle, not too much turn but there was something there for us as well."

Headlining a strong top order with the likes of Teague Wyllie and Campbell Kellaway, Connolly said application from the batters, as well as their plethora of strong spin options would be the key to going deep into the tournament.

"We're pretty strong in all areas but I feel like our batting and spin bowling is really going to be pretty dominant for us," he said.

"I'm excited about Niv Radhakrishnan, the bowler that bowls both arms and he's a very good batter for us.

"Another one would probably be the young one Harkirat (Bajwa), I feel like he can play a big role through the middle for us during this tournament."

Australia first match starts at 1AM AEDT on January 15 and will be broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.