CA XI announced for U19 Champs

Cricket Australia has announced the squad of talented under-17s players to be coached by former Test bowler Ryan Harris at the Under-19 National Championships in Adelaide later this year.

The Cricket Australia XI, selected from the best players at the recent Under-17 National Championships, is an important part of the Australia’s new cricket talent pathway.

It will be the first time a CA XI has participated in the Under-19 tournament, and it follows the success of the CA XI at this week's Under-17 Championships.

That team, made up of the best players from the School Sport Australia Under-15’s Championships, performed strongly winning four of six games and placing third behind eventual finalists NSW Metropolitan and Queensland.

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Coach Ryan Harris with his CA XI Under-19 team // Brody Grogan

This will be the first official coaching role for recently retired fast bowler Harris, who says he is excited to be a part of the new Australian talent pathway.

"The opportunity I have to coach a side so young and get to know some up-and-coming cricketers and to see them perform will be exciting for me,” Harris said.

CA's youth selection panel, featuring Greg Chappell, Graeme Hick, Trevor Hohns and Troy Cooley, were set the task of choosing players who demonstrated the "performance and character traits required to help them to develop into future elite players".

Queensland, winners of the Under-17 National Championships in Brisbane, are represented state by four players in the CA XI squad, while New South Wales boasts three players.

Many of the players are touted as future first-class players.

Here's a look at the selected squad and which international player they most resemble.

Nathan McSweeney (Queensland, captain)

The captain of the squad, leads by example and can be relied on at the top of the order for runs when times get tough. Showcased by his gritty 96 against Tasmania and his ability to cope with the pressure of a grand final, coming in at 2-19 and scoring an unbeaten-132 to guide his team to what seemed like an unlikely victory. McSweeney definitely won’t be out of his depth at the Under-19s level.

Plays like: Steve Smith

Alex Reardon (South Australia, vc)

Named as vice-captain after leading South Australia in the tournament, Reardon will take the gloves for the side. A very handy middle order batsman for someone of his small stature and can hit a very heavy ball. Was consistent during the recent carnival, scoring 243 runs at 48.6 and rightfully taking the position behind the stumps with six catches and a tournament high four stumpings. As the only South Australian native, Reardon will be relied on for guidance on conditions and wickets.

Plays like: Brad Haddin

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Xavier Bartlett (Queensland)

By far the quickest bowler of his age group, Bartlett is seriously quick. The Gold Coast junior has the height to match the speed and was one of very few bowlers in the tournament to use the bouncer as a weapon in his arsenal. Will need to fire against the older boys if the Cricket Australia XI are to win games, his pace alone might cause some serious damage to opposition batsmen.

Plays like: Josh Hazlewood

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Max Bryant (Queensland)

Unfazed by the toughest of situations, this was no more apparent than when his side needed 271 from 50 overs to advance to the final and Bryant hit 141 off 91 balls to single-handedly claim victory. Another Gold Coast product, his small frame is misleading, as he is able to pull, cut and drive anything loose from a bowler. Bryant is the player that can set the tone of the innings.

Plays like: David Warner

Ryan Hackney (NSW Metropolitan)

You’d be excused if you thought Hackney would drop off after scoring an unbeaten-112 on the first day of the carnival, but two days later he went one-stroke better for another unbeaten-118. Hackney commands time at the crease, steadily scoring all innings unlike the hard-hitting quick-scoring nature of Bryant. Topped off his “Player of the Championships” win with 112 in the final against Queensland, albeit in a losing cause. Had never scored a hundred (two 99s) before the week and bettered Domenic Thornley’s NSW record 1994-95 carnival of 475 runs by 20.

Plays like: Mike Hussey

Ryan Hadley (NSW Metropolitan)

A traditionalist’s bowler, Hadley will consistently bowl stump to stump all day. The Blacktown junior has the ability to contain and wear batsmen down, often holding an end while his partner claims the rewards at the other end. Will toil away at the U19s tournament and won’t be questioned for his effort with the ball.

Plays like: Peter Siddle

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Bradley Hope (Western Australia)

Claremont all-rounder Bradley Hope was chosen for to his ability with both bat and ball. While he didn’t excel at either, he was extremely handy for the Western Australian side, batting at number four all tournament and bowling some handy medium pace. Hope is someone who will always be in the game and often a main contributor in either discipline.

Plays like: Jacques Kallis

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Jonathan Merlo (Victorian Metropolitan)

Camberwell’s Jonathan Merlo wouldn’t be out of place playing AFL as a key position player, the all-rounder is solidly built and uses his power to monster balls to (and over) the boundary. Showcased his all-round ability hitting 114 not out against Tasmania on the Sunshine Coast, a knock that included six sixes and following it up with 2-11 on a 32-degree day. Merlo led the tournament with 14 wickets at a tidy average of 14.0.

Plays like: Andrew Symonds

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Dylan Mullen (Northern Territory)

Valleys all-rounder Dylan Mullen bowls leg-spin with control and conviction, much like Australia’s greatest ever bowler Shane Warne. But unlike Warne, Mullen is a pivotal cog in the middle order, with Northern Territory relying on every single one of his 220 runs this year. A 57-run, 4-42 match against Victorian Country earned him maximum votes from umpires and will slot nicely into this sides forming middle order.

Plays like: David Hussey

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Blake Parsons (Victorian Metropolitan)

Prahran spinner Blake Parsons didn’t have an overly successful statistical tournament but showed enough potential with his left-arm-orthodox spin to earn a call-up to the composite side. The last of four squad captains selected in the team, Greg Chappell was suitably impressed with his control and is no doubt one that the youth selection panel have touted as a potential first-class player.

Plays like: Nathan Lyon

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Jason Sangha (Cricket Australia XI)

Sangha is touted as Australia’s best junior batsman by those who have seen him play. Has recently dominated the School Sports Australia carnival, scored 310 runs at 38.8 including four half-centuries in the recent Under 17 National Championships and has experience playing in England, all this just after his 16^th birthday. Batted at number three in Stuart Law’s side and has every shot in the book, not concerned with anything but the ball and his stroke play. If Sangha has a successful tournament in Adelaide, watch this space, because the State and National Selection Panels definitely will be.

Plays like: Michael Clarke

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Sam Skelly (ACT/NSW Country) 

University of Canberra quick Sam Skelly is the ACT’s only representative in the composite squad, Skelly only took four wickets from 48 overs in the recent carnival but his action, approach and delivery is ready made for representative cricket. Will need to show some wicket-taking ability to edge out the other quicks but the potential is definitely there.

Plays like: Pat Cummins

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Matthew Spoors (Western Australia)

Spoors was heavily relied on by Western Australia with both the bat and the ball, handy at the top of the order and with his leg-spin. Took eight wickets and bowled 65 from a possible 80 overs in the championships. But it was his batting that almost guarantees him a spot facing the new ball, scoring two centuries and 327 runs in total at 54.5. A key characteristic of the Wanneroo junior is his patience, something required to have success at this level.

Plays like: Chris Rogers

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Harrison Wood (Queensland)

Ipswich’s Harrison Wood rounds out the squad, another opening batsman who will be vying for a spot at the top of the order. Was part of the winning Queensland outfit and got seven starts from eight innings in the carnival, only once going on to make a half-century. Expect the youth selection panel to ensure Wood develops staying power at the crease as the potential is there for big runs.

Plays like: Shaun Marsh

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The squad will form a week out from the Under 19 National Championships, to be played from 30 November to 10 December in Adelaide.

For all underage talent news visit www.nationalchamps.com.au.