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| Sunday, 5 February 2006 |
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Australia vs South Africa: Pick on first day by Ranjan Anandappa The Australia - South Africa cricket encounter in group 'B' should be the pick of the matches when the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup begins today at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds. Sri Lanka in group 'C' will meet Scotland at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, while New Zealand takes on Bangladesh in a group 'A' encounter at the P. Sara Stadium and Zimbabwe meets Ireland at the NCC grounds in a group 'D' match. The Sri Lankans after their good win over the reigning champions Pakistan in the second practice match after losing to the West Indies in a lowlier practice match, will give them a lot of confidence prior to their tougher assignment against India on February 10 at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama. The Australians won the title in 2002 in New Zealand, but put up a dismal show in the 2004 championship held in Bangladesh. The Aussies failed to reach the super league stage and had to play in the Plate Competition. Having reached the Plate final they lost to hosts Bangladesh and had to undergo the embarrassment of returning home empty handed, something rare for an Australian team. The only surviving member of that side is the skipper Moises Henriques. With an eighteen month training programme in preparation for the event with the assistance of some present day national players, the Aussies are bound to mount a strong challenge to regain the World Cup and make amends. For this they will need to emulate their seniors who are world champions in both versions of the game. Playing on sub-continent surfaces is nothing new to them as they had toured India last September for a series of limited over games. Australia are in the toughest group in the competition along with South Africa, West Indies and the USA. As only the two top teams in each group could find a place in the semi final it will be a compelling battle for supremacy between these three teams. On the other hand South Africa too, has not fared well in the recent past. They were placed fifth out of the six nations which took part in the Afro - Asian Cup played in India last year. Pace bowler Craig Alexander is the only player in the South African camp who has played in the previous tournament held in Bangladesh. Expectations are high from the South African skipper Dean Elgar who has excelled as an all-rounder. The South Africans seem to be well aware of the pitch conditions and they have four spinners left armer Jean Symes, off spinner Mafiki Serame, Richard de Naves and the skipper himself. When New Zealand meets Bangladesh in a group 'A' match at the P. Sara Stadium, they will have a fight on their hands against the rapidly improving Bangladesh team. Both teams have not played against each other for sometime. Bangladesh is hoping to secure a place in the semi-finals. They have being training vigorously, and the players and the country has high expectations. They beat England and Sri Lanka in a tri-nation tournament. Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim is a Test player and has played a Test match against England at Lord's. Sri Lanka should have an easy passage against Scotland in their group 'C' match. If the Lankan batsmen keep upto their potential they should pile up a big score and put their opponents under pressure. Skipper Angelo Mathew is blossoming out to be a fine all-rounder and has the players of the calibre of Dimuth Karunaratne, Sammera Soysa, Hans Fernando, Sachitra Serasinghe, spinners Rajeeva Weerasinghe and Sachit Pathirana. Zimbabwe who will meet Ireland in a group 'D' match has a Test player in Graeme Cremer who has played in seven Test matches and skipper Sean Williams who has represented the country in seven ODIs. Cremer is a right arm leg spinner and could exploit the local conditions effectively. Teams. Australia Moises Henriques (Captain), Aaron Finch (V.Captain), Jackson Bird, Tom Cooper, Ben Cutting, Jon Holland, Simon Keen, Usman Khawaja, Jack McNamara, Adam Richard, William Sheridan, Tom Stray, Mathew Wade, David Warner, Geoffrey Tamblyn. South Africa Dean Elgar (Captain), Richard Levi ( V.Captain), Craig Alexander, Pieter Daneel, Richard das Neves, Craig Kieswetter, Grant Makoena, Waynne Parnell, Romano Ramno, Mafinki Serame, Mthokozisi Shezi, Malusi Siboto, Jean Symes, Brett Thompson, Bangladesh Dolar Mahammud, Mushfiquer Rahim (Captain), Mehrab Hossain (V.Captain), Nabil Samad Chowdhury, Sakib Al Hanan, Roqibul Hanan, Kamrul Islam, Rezaul Islam, Sirafullah Khadam, Iqbal Khan, Shamsur Rahman, Mohammed Soh Sharwadi, Hassan Siddiqui, Ishraq Sonnet. New Zealand Marc Ellison (captain), Todd Astle, Dean Bartleet, Hamish Bennet, Andrew de Brooder, Jason Donelly, Nicolas Fitzgerald, Shaun Fitzgibbon, Martin Guptil, Roneel Hira, Roland Karaitiana, Colin Munro, Kieran Noema Barnett, Timothy Southee. Sri Lanka Angelo Mathew (Captain), Sameera Soysa, Sachitra Serasinghe, Dimuth Karunaratne, Hans Fernando, Dilhan Cooray, Shalika Karunanayake, Sachit Pthirana, Tissara Perera, Chatupama Gunasinghe, Rajeeva Weerasinghe, Ashan Priyanjana, Prabudha Perera, Malinga Pushpakumara. Scotland Richard Barrington, David Bill, Tyler Buchan, Robert Cannon, Kasiam Farid (Captain), Gordon Goudie, Andrew Hislop, Moneeb Iqbal, Scot MacLennan, Calum Macleod, Umair Mohammed, Rajeeve Routray, Sean Weeraratne, Aamir Mehmond, Peter Drinnen. Zimbabwe Sean Williams (Captain), Gary Balance, Roland Benade, Justice Chibhabha, Graeme Cremer, Ryan Higgins, Friday Kasteni, Tarisai Mahlunge, Prince Masvaure, Keagan Meth, Taurai Tapfumaneyi, Ian Nicolson, Donald Samunderu, Glen Querl, Walter Chawaguta. Ireland Neil Gill (Captain), James Hall, Richard Keaveney, Gary Kidd, Fintan McAllister, Niall McDarby, Gareth McKee, Gavin McKenna, Eoin Morgan, Andrew Poynter, David Rankin, Richard Stirlin, Greg Thompson, Gary Wilson, Brian Walsh. Umpires for today Group 'A' New Zealand Vs Bangladesh at the P. Sara Stadium; Umpires. Paul Baldwin (Germany) and Billy Doctrove (West Indies). Group 'B'; South Africa Vs Australia at SSC; Umpires: Gary Baxter (New Zealand) and Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka) . Group 'C'; Scotland Vs Sri Lanka at R. Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama: Umpires. Roger Dill (Bermuda) and Steve Davis (Australia) Group 'D'; Zimbabwe Vs Ireland at NCC grounds: Umpires. Nadeem Ghauri (Pakistan) and Shahul Hameed (Indonesia).
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