Connolly leaning on Scorchers teammate ahead of U19 semi

Australia Under-19 captain Cooper Connolly has the backing of T20 World Cup hero and Perth Scorchers teammate Mitch Marsh as his side prepares to tackle rivals India in their semi-final on Wednesday (midnight Thursday morning AEDT).

Marsh was the captain of Australia's last triumph at the under-age tournament back in 2010, headlining a team that included now national stars Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa.

Connolly, who received a Scorchers contract for KFC BBL|11 but didn’t play due to his U19 World Cup preparations, said he is eager to follow in the footsteps of fellow WA allrounder Marsh, the last man to captain a U19 World Cup-winning Australian team.

"It'd be pretty cool," Connolly said ahead of the semi-final. "I spoke to Mitch Marsh briefly about it because he obviously won the last one for Australia and I'd love to get to that spot and do the same as him."

Marsh made a crucial 97 in the 2010 semi-final when his Aussies took on Sri Lanka, and while it hasn’t been the most fruitful campaign for Connolly with the bat so far – his highest score of 33 came in last week's quarter-final – he does have an innings of 117 under his belt from Australia's sole practice match against India.

It means Connolly will be accustomed to the bowling he will face in the knockout clash, and hopes he can produce a captain's knock in a semi-final just as Marsh did 11 years ago.

There has been a strong Western Australian flavour about this year's World Cup for the Aussies, with 17-year-old opener Teague Wyllie taking much of the spotlight with his stunning form.

The Rockingham-Mandurah batter has compiled 264 runs at an average of 132 in his four innings throughout the campaign, and Connolly said he expected him to anchor Australia's top order once again against India.

"I said at the start of the tournament he (Teague) was going to be a big run scorer for us," he said.

"I backed him in being a WA man, I've seen him all through juniors and I think he can continue to do that. He can play a big role for us in these last couple of matches."

Having been impacted by multiple COVID-19 cases in their camp, meaning key players have been unbailable at various stages, Australia now has a full squad of 15 players to choose from, creating some welcome selection headaches ahead of their clash with cricket's powerhouse outfit.

Connolly said it was a relief to finally have a full contingent of players and that his side's game plan wouldn’t change from recent matches, having gained considerable momentum after comfortable wins against Scotland and Pakistan.

"A few guys were unavailable for selection last game, but we've got a full squad and we're all ready for this game," he said.

"There's not really a change in approach, we've just got to play some good cricket and hopefully we can knock off India.

"They're a very good side and we know that, but if we can play our best cricket, we can beat them."

The match will take place at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, which hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for batters throughout the U19 World Cup so far.

Connolly said it would be important not to try win the game through posting a huge total, and that their bowling would be just as crucial.

"Looking at all the other scores (at the ground), it's been 200, 220 looks like a good score, so we're not going to look towards that Pakistan score where we made 270," Connolly said.

"We're going to simmer things down a little bit and look to make 200, 200-plus if we bat first.

"At the toss it's just sort of see what the conditions are like, see if it's a little bit soft, but I feel like if we bat or bowl either way, we've got to do both well."

India captain Yash Dhull also commented on the differing conditions the two sides would encounter in the semi-final.

Dhull made an unbeaten half-century in that warm-up match and looms as a key wicket for the Aussies but said his side wouldn’t get carried away with the confidence they gained from that game.

"The wicket in the warm-up match against Australia Under-19s was different to the one we will have in the semi-final tomorrow (in Antigua)," he said.

"The game will be played depending on the pitch conditions. So, we will only know tomorrow how we will bowl and how we can put Australia under pressure.

"We will look to play with a positive mindset. We will look to set the target as per the condition of the wicket and the situation of the match."

The winner will go on to play England in the final this weekend, after they narrowly got over the line against Afghanistan in the first semi-final by 15 runs.

The India-Australia match will be broadcast to Australian viewers on Fox Cricket and Kayo.