Under 19 World Cup win a sneak peek at the next generation of Australian men’s cricketing stars
Australia has lifted yet another major cricket trophy, securing the Under 19s World Cup. BEN HORNE tracks the progress and prospects of the teenagers who knocked over India.
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The rewards for Australia’s under 19s World Cup victory could flow as soon as this Friday with one of the heroes a chance of being rushed into Sheffield Shield cricket.
Sam Konstas, who has drawn comparisons to one of NSW’s finest ever products, Michael Clarke, made a duck in Australia’s triumph over India in the final, but remains one of the hottest talents in the country.
After making his Shield debut for the Blues just days after finishing his HSC late last year, Konstas is expected to come straight back into the mix for NSW upon his return from South Africa this week.
If Konstas doesn’t quite have enough time to turnaround and play in Friday’s Shield fixture against Victoria at the SCG, he will certainly be hard to keep out of NSW’s next matches against South Australia and Queensland to finish the season.
NSW, currently in fourth place on the Shield ladder, remains in contention for the final and 18-year-old Konstas could be the x-factor that spurs them to a decider.
The opener batted at No. 3 in his one and only match for NSW and was a crucial figure for Australia in the under 19s World Cup, making a clutch century in the final group game against the West Indies.
Queensland fast bowler Callum Vidler is another Australian Under 19s star on the cusp of Sheffield Shield cricket.
Vidler was given a taste around the Brisbane Heat camp as a local replacement during the Big Bash season and is every chance of getting his first cap for the Bulls, particularly now Queensland is out of the running for the Shield final and may look to blood young talent.
West Australian fast bowler Mahli Beardman, who was player of the final against India, with a blistering three-wicket haul, made his one-day cup debut against NSW earlier in the summer and is another under 19s prodigy immediately in contention for State cricket.
This is Australia’s fourth under 19s World Cup triumph and there appears certain to be some future internationals in the line-up … but you can never take anything for granted.
There’s a big difference between being an underage star and a proven international cricketer and in many cases, the secret is to not rush their progression.
Youngsters can make it at under 19s level on sheer talent, but that doesn’t necessarily cut it as you reach senior cricket.
Here is where the class of 2024 is situated on their journey to the top.
Hugh Weibgen (QLD – Valley District Cricket Club) – Captain
The thing everyone says about the impressive skipper is he’s got the head of a 29-year-old on 19-year old shoulders. Excellent leader and just a steady kid. Made the one hundred in the under 19s World Cup but also a lot of very good 40s and 50s which held innings together for Australia. Is some chance of debuting for Queensland in a Shield game for the end of the season.
Lachlan Aitken (QLD – Gold Coast District Cricket Club)
Young wicketkeeper who has been identified as a player to watch by Queensland stumper Jimmy Peirson. Aitken hasn’t quite cracked second XI cricket as yet but is not far away.
Charlie Anderson (NSW – Northern District Cricket Club)
A highly skilled swing bowler for Northern Districts in Sydney who made his second XI debut for NSW last year. Is set to be a key part of the NSW under 19s three-day red ball match against Victoria coming up soon and it will be a great opportunity to see how the young star goes in the longer form of the game. Is firmly in the conversation for a NSW rookie contract next season.
Harkirat Bajwa (VIC – Melbourne Cricket Club)
Has excelled in his academic studies as well as his cricket and is a young man going places. Didn’t play a huge role for Australia in the World Cup but did dismantle Zimbabwe in a group game. Very promising player.
Mahli Beardman (WA – Melville Cricket Club)
Already debuted for WA in one-day cricket and there is a lot of excitement building around this young man who bowled Australia to victory in the final against India in Benoni. Beardman has been taken under the wing of Dennis Lillee who has mentored and coached him. At this stage, WA are probably looking at him more as a white ball prospect over the next 12 months. The big quick has had injury issues coming through the junior cricket and white ball might be seen as the best way to manage his immediate development. With WA quicks Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson and Jason Behrendorff all on the cusp of Australian cricket, Beardman is a huge chance to play plenty of State cricket next summer.
Tom Campbell (QLD – Western Suburbs District Cricket Club)
Came on leaps and bounds this season and has had a very rapid rise. Was very unlucky to miss the final, with Australia preferring the extra quick in Charlie Anderson against India. Big, strong lad and a very good prospect.
Harry Dixon (VIC – St Kilda Cricket Club)
One of Australia’s brightest young stars, Dixon has already made the big time with the Melbourne Renegades. Victoria has spoken to Dixon about the perils of pushing him too quickly. But he is a serious player who will get opportunities over the next 12 months. Very exciting cricketer who made runs opening the batting in the semi-final and the final in South Africa.
Ryan Hicks (NSW – Mosman Cricket Club)
Wicketkeeper/batsman who by all accounts has exceptional ability with the gloves. From a batting perspective, NSW scouts believe he can bat anywhere from 1-6. Very solid batting technique but also has the power game to come in and dominate from any position.
Sam Konstas (NSW – Sutherland Cricket Club)
Serious batsman who has already played Sheffield Shield cricket and appears destined for great things. Made a duck in the final against India, but his class has been proven now for many years. Konstas has Shane Watson working with him as a close mentor.
Rafael MacMillan (NSW – St George District Cricket Club)
Outstanding off-spin prospect from St George who took three wickets against India in the final. Standing at well over six foot, MacMillan’s height should be a huge advantage for him on Australian wickets as he gets older, because he gets bounce and hits the top of the bat. Spinners are often the most disadvantaged in pathway cricket because it’s mostly all white ball cricket and their roles become more about containment than taking wickets. But NSW officials are excited about MacMillan being fed more of a diet of red ball cricket as he gets older and develop his skills taking wickets in the third and fourth innings on tiring tracks.
Aidan O’Connor (TAS – Greater Northern Raiders)
At the start of his journey as a youngster still eligible to play under 19s again next year. O’Connor has a rookie contract with Tasmania which means he is training in the professional set-up. Still lives in Launceston and could come into the frame for Marsh Cup or Big Bash next season. Not frightened to take the game on.
Harjas Singh (NSW – Western Suburbs Cricket Club)
The young Sikh who hails from Punjab and moved to Australia as a young child, showed his outstanding potential with a high-pressure half century in the final against India. It was an impressive given the pressure he was under having not made many runs for the tournament to that point. Has enormous talent and has Usman Khawaja as his inspiration.
Tom Straker (NSW – Sutherland District Cricket Club)
Along with Konstas, Straker is another strong prospect out of Sutherland. A tearaway fast bowler who is the kind of player the skipper turns to when he needs a partnership broken. Effort and energy and intensity from his first ball to his last. Straker hits the wicket hard, doesn’t given an inch and on his day he can go through teams, as he did in the semi-final against Pakistan, taking six wickets.
Callum Vidler (QLD – Valley District Cricket Club)
Part of the Australian under 19s all-star fast bowling cartel. Big chance of a Sheffield Shield debut upon his return and certainly has the world at his feet in Queensland next season.
Corey Wasley (WA – Rockingham-Mandurah Cricket Club)
Unlucky in that he was in Australia’s best XI until he broke his finger in the opening game of the tournament and had to be replaced. Has been around West Australian second XI cricket for a couple of years and made a double century about 12 months ago. A very powerful batsman who has modelled his approach on Shaun Marsh in terms of the way he bats – lashing everything through the on-side. Flamboyant cricketer who came through with fellow young gun Teague Wyllie. Likely to get a rookie contract next season and Big Bash and one-day cricket might not be far away.
Oliver Peake (Vic – Geelong Cricket Club) – (Replacement for Corey Wasley
The youngest player in the squad at just 17 years of age, the Victorian is a young player of enormous potential. The son of former Victorian prodigy Clinton Peake, the kid made a crucial 46 off just 43 balls in the final which was arguably matchwinning. Konstas himself has identified Peake as the player to watch out of the entire 19s squad.
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