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| Australia under-19s | |
|---|---|
| Name | Australia Under-19s |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Ground | Various |
| Owner | Cricket Australia |
| Colours | Baggy Green |
Australia under-19s are the national under-19 cricket team representing Australia in international youth cricket. The team is administered by Cricket Australia and competes in tournaments such as the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and bilateral youth series against nations including England cricket team, India national cricket team, South Africa national cricket team, and Pakistan national cricket team. Historically a pathway feeding into senior sides like the Australia national cricket team, the squad has produced players who have gone on to play in competitions such as the Sheffield Shield, Big Bash League, and Indian Premier League.
The youth side traces its origins to matches in the late 1970s and early 1980s when organizations such as Cricket Australia and state bodies like the New South Wales Cricket Association and Victorian Cricket Association organized tours to face opposition from England under-19s, West Indies under-19s, India under-19s, and Pakistan under-19s. Australia participated in the inaugural ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 1988 and subsequently in editions held in venues like Bangalore, Bermuda, Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. Over decades the program has been influenced by administrators including figures from Australian Cricket Board and coaches connected to institutions such as the Bradman Foundation and state academies in Queensland, Western Australia, and Tasmania.
Selection is overseen by selectors appointed by Cricket Australia often drawn from state panels such as New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. Squads typically include a mix of batsmen, fast bowlers, spin bowlers, and wicketkeepers who have emerged through competitions like the Australian Under-19 Championships, state Grade Cricket systems including Sheffield Shield Academy fixtures, and talent pathways linked to institutions like the Australian Institute of Sport and state high-performance centers. Selection windows align with tours to countries such as England, India, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe and involve coaches, talent scouts, and medical staff drawn from bodies like Cricket Australia and state associations.
Coaching appointments have included former first-class players and coaches with links to organizations like the Bradman Oval, National Cricket Centre, and state cricket academies in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. Support staff typically comprise strength and conditioning specialists trained under programs at the Australian Institute of Sport, physiotherapists who have worked with teams such as Australia national cricket team, sports psychologists affiliated with universities like the University of Queensland and performance analysts utilising networks including the Big Bash League franchises. Notable coaches and mentors have included former players who represented clubs in the Sheffield Shield, toured with Australia A, or played in tournaments such as the Commonwealth Games cricket demonstrations.
Australia’s under-19 side has contested every edition of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup since its inception, achieving tournament victories and high finishes against rivals such as India national under-19 cricket team, England under-19s, Pakistan under-19s, South Africa under-19s, and West Indies under-19s. The team has also won bilateral series on tours to countries like England, India, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand and featured in tri-series involving sides from Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Performances in the Under-19 World Cup have served as indicators for future success in competitions like the Sheffield Shield, Big Bash League, and international Test and One Day careers with the Australia national cricket team.
Alumni include players who progressed to the Australia national cricket team and domestic stalwarts in the Sheffield Shield and Big Bash League such as Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, Steve Waugh, Shane Watson, Phil Hughes, David Warner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Travis Head, Aaron Finch, Glen McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Simon Katich, Usman Khawaja, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Stuart Clark, Shaun Marsh, Michael Hussey, Ben Hilfenhaus, Kane Richardson, James Faulkner, Cameron Green, Tim Paine, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus North, Sam Whiteman, Terry Jenner and emerging talents who later featured in the Indian Premier League and other T20 competitions. Many alumni have been recognized with awards such as the Bradman Medal and national honors related to sporting achievement.
The program emphasizes skills development modeled on traditions established by clubs such as Sydney Cricket Ground clubs, philosophies from coaches who worked at the National Cricket Centre, and conditioning regimes influenced by the Australian Institute of Sport. Emphasis is placed on fast-bowling pipelines from regions like Western Australia and Queensland, batting development rooted in systems from New South Wales and Victoria, and spin development nurtured through tours to India and Sri Lanka. Pathways include progression from school cricket competitions, state underage sides, the Australian Under-19 Championships, state academy squads, and transition into professional environments including Sheffield Shield contracts and Big Bash League franchises such as the Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Stars.
Statistical records include leading run-scorers and wicket-takers in ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup history drawn from Australian campaigns, highest team totals and individual centuries recorded at venues like Bangalore, Christchurch, and Colombo, and best bowling analyses achieved on tours to England and South Africa. Team records also document debut caps for players who later made Test and ODI debuts for the Australia national cricket team and list performance metrics used by analysts employed in competitions like the Big Bash League and state level tournaments. Milestones such as tournament championships, series wins in England and India, and individual awards at Under-19 World Cups form part of the statistical legacy.
Category:Youth cricket teams Category:Cricket in Australia