10 things we've learned in the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup so far
The hype about India’s batsmen is justified…
India super shots against Australia U19CWC
Prithvi Shaw has been labelled as Sachin Tendulkar’s heir, and it’s hoped that he and fellow U19s player Shubman Gill could shoulder the batting hopes of a generation. From the evidence of their performance against Australia, that hope could become a reality.
…and they’ve got fast bowlers too
Australia wickets fall v India at U19CWC
All the focus was on India’s batsmen pre-tournament, but in Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, and Ishan Porel, they’ve get three bowlers all capable of topping 145 kph. Then there’s Anukul Roy who took a five-for against Papua New Guinea. India are a formidable team.
Afghanistan are contenders
Highlights: Afghanistan beats Pakistan to open U19CWC campaign
Afghanistan have only reached the quarter-finals once, in 2014, but they look set to go much further this time. Having won the U19 Asia Cup in December, and with players with ODI four-fors and first-class triple centuries in their ranks, they were touted as pre-tournament favourites, and their brushing aside of Pakistan, who showed their own capabilities against Ireland, confirms them as a team to beat.
Senior cricketers should be ashamed of their over-rates
England are leading the way here, getting through their 50 overs against Namibia in almost exactly three hours, putting the over-rates of some Test teams, who often fail to get through 90 overs in six-and-a-half hours, to shame.
The Associates are not to be underestimated
Match Highlights: Bangladesh beat Canada by 66 runs at U19CWC
There have been no upsets yet, but the smaller countries have shown in parts they are not just here to make up the numbers. Canada looked most likely, reducing Bangladesh to 29/2 and 91/3, eventually losing by just 66 runs. Kenya too, a superb century from South African captain Raynard van Tonder aside, were competitive for large parts of the game, while most teams have shown glimpses.
Rommel Shahzad has an action like no other
Canada's Shahzad's bowling action catches the eye
Just look at it! Like a ribbon-twirling rhythmic gymnast.
Bangladesh have a formidable batting line-up, with players for every situation
POTM Hassan's highlights and juggled catch to be out on 84
Four of their top five have made half-centuries, and contrasting ones too. Saif Hassan and Mohammed Naim Sheikh raced away in their rain-shortened game against Namibia, while against Canada, Tawhid Hridoy really had to dig deep to make a century.
The ambidextrous spinner can bat
The Ambidextrous Kamindu Mendis
The Ambidextrous Kamindu Mendis
Sri Lankan skipper Kamindu Mendis can bowl with both arms, but he also bats in the top five and compiled a captain’s knock of 74 not out from 73 balls to rescue his side from 51/3 against Ireland.
Shaheen Afridi justifies the next Wasim Akram tag
IRE v PAK Player of the Match - Shaheen Afridi
He says Wasim Akram is his hero, and given that he bowls left-arm inswing at good pace, it’s a decent comparison. Against Ireland, he claimed the best figures by a Pakistan bowler in ICC U19 CWC history to further fuel comparisons.
We’ll see some records broken
100: Highlights from Raynard van Tonder's superb century against Kenya U19s
Aside from Afridi’s record, we’ve also seen the highest score against Australia in ICC U19 CWC history, made by India, India’s highest opening stand in this competition, also in that game, South Africa’s second highest individual and team total, and the second highest innings by a captain (Raynard van Tonder’s 147 and South Africa’s 341/7 v Kenya), the third time a player has scored fifty and taken five-for in the same game (Afif Hossain v Canada), and many other records broken. With totals rocketing skywards, we’re betting they won’t be the last.
