NT cricket under-19s are facing a massive challenge at the national championships

NORTHERN Territory under-19s cricket coach Brett Rankin is confident of a strong showing at the national championships in Hobart early next month.

Under 19 Cricketers

NORTHERN Territory under-19s cricket coach Brett Rankin is confident of a strong showing at the national championships in Hobart early next month.

"We have potentially the best under-19s side that we have been able to field for a number of years," he said.

The NT under-19s head to Adelaide next Wednesday where they will play practice matches against the state's under-17 and under-19 teams before heading to Tasmania.

Rankin, who is coaching the team for the first time after being the assistant in 2010, caught up with the NT News at cricket headquarters in Abala Road as he and allrounder James Dix put some finishing touches to their Tassie plans.

"The challenge for us is that we have done very well at under-17 level the last three or four years where we have knocked off every state," Rankin said.

"But we have not converted that to a successful under-19s championships so that is our main aim.

"All these boys have been in teams that have beaten the top sides so now it is a case of transferring that to the 19s."

Rankin said the championships were the best chance for NT's talented young cricketers to put themselves in the ship window for Australian selection.

"This is the next closest step for the boys to be identified as potential first-class cricketers," Rankin said.

"We expect a lot of our boys to be playing grade cricket and so this is a real chance for them to be putting themselves in front of the national youth selectors."

Eight teams are competing in the national championships in Hobart from December 2-12.

James Dix, a former NT representative at under-13 and under-15 level, said he was looking forward to the Hobart experience.

The 18-year-old Nightcliff allrounder, who bats and bowls left-handed, said it was a big step up for him.

The 13-man squad also includes NT Strike players Thomas Andrews, Luke Robins and Jake Weatherald.

Thomas Andrews has been named in the Australian Under-19 team, while Luke Robins is part of the Chairman's XI squad to play England in Alice Springs next week. Patrick Pisel and Kyle Scrimegour are currently playing first-grade cricket in Sydney and Brisbane respectively. Youngsters Jacob Dickman and Kyle Scrimegour are also competing in the NT under-17 team.

"Kyle is a left-arm bowler who we have fast-tracked. He is currently doing Year 11 in Brisbane and playing for the Valleys," Rankins said."He made 70-odd in his second-last game at the Valleys."

Off to Tassie

Northern Territory U19s: Thomas Andrews (Darwin), Daniel Clarke (Rovers - Alice Springs), Michael De Iacovo (Darwin), Jayden Dick (Wests - Alice Springs), Jacob Dickman (Darwin), James Dix (Nightcliff), Ben Ellis (Gapview Works - Alice Springs), Lachlan Griffiths (Southern Districts), Akash Patel (Rovers - Alice Springs), Patrick Pisel (Darwin), Luke Robins (PINT), Kyle Scrimegour (PINT), Jake Weatherald (Darwin); Manager: Kim Dick; Coach: Brett Rankin.

Itinerary

NT v Queensland at Ferguson Park (Dec 2), NT v NSW at Kingston Twin Ovals (Dec 3), NT v South Australia at University Oval (Dec 5-6), NT v ACT at Ferguson Park (Dec 8-9), NT v Tasmania at TCA Ground (Dec 11-12).