By Adrian Meredith
VICTORIA, Australia:
The ICC U19 World Cup 2012 was culminated on Sunday with Indian youth clinching
the title with a comfortable six-wicket victory over Australia U19 at Tony
Ireland Stadium in Townsville.
Following is a selection of top performers by country in the
ICC U19 World Cup 2012 by Adrian Meredith.
AFGHANISTAN
Javed Ahmadi was
the standout performer, scoring 285 runs at an average of 47.50 and a strike
rate of 104.39 as well as 3 wickets at an average of 68.66 and economy of 4.29.
Afghanistan didn't make the finals; so this was largely against weaker
opposition and his scores of 20, 15 and 23 against the test playing nations of
Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka suggests that he was just a weak team
bully. He is actually an overage player (aged 20 years 237 days) and played for
the Afghanistan senior side against Australia in an ODI just days after the
completion of Afghanistan's last U19 fixture, when he was out for a duck.
AUSTRALIA
Ashton Turner was
the standout player, scoring 97 runs at an average of 48.50 and strike rate of
79.50, largely due to only getting out twice, though his 43 in the final was
valuable. He also took 11 wickets at an average of 16.18 and an economy of
4.09, with his right arm off break spinners. With Australia desperately looking
for a quality spin bowler, if Turner can translate this to performances at
first class level he could soon be in the Australian senior team, in the next
year or two.
William Bosisto
was the surprise choice as the player of the tournament, scoring 276 runs at an
appalling strike rate of 55.75, though his average was amazing as he was only
out once! He finished 6th on the highest run scorers and on many occasions
helped Australia out of deep holes. But ultimately he is too slow to be in the senior
limited overs teams and he isn't solid enough to bat in the tests; so he will
need to work a bit harder to make it to the senior teams.
Kurtis Patterson
scored 170 runs at an average of 34.00 and strike rate of 78.34 but he put a
great value on his wicket and really was there to win the match when it needed
to be won, in every match, showing great maturity.
Gurinder Sandhu
was the only other Australian bowler to take more than 6 wickets, taking 10
wickets at an average of 18.60 and an economy of 3.47. The problem is that
there are so many other fast bowlers going about in Australia that he may be a
fair way off breaking into the senior team. If he does, however, he would be
the first ever Indian-born player to represent Australia at senior level. He is
already the first to represent Australia at U19 level.
BANGLADESH
Anamul Haque was
the standout performer, topping the run scoring list with 365 runs at an
average of 60.83 and strike rate of 85.08. He scored 2 centuries - one against
Sri Lanka and one against England, and also scored a half century against
England, showing that he is a big match player. Certainly one to watch and it
is a bit of a surprise that he isn't already in the Bangladesh senior team as
they could do with a quality batsman.
ENGLAND
Reece Topley was
easily the standout performer for England, topping the overall most wickets
tally (4 wickets clear of the 2nd best) for the tournament with 19 wickets at
an average of 9.10 and an economy of 3.17! Put him in the England senior team
already! As a left armed fast bowler he would be tricky for opponents to handle
too. His worst performance was 2/33 against Australia - in every other match he
took at least 3 wickets, with 5 against Bangladesh in England's final match!
INDIA
Unmukt Chand was
the standout performer not because of his entire series but because of his
amazing match winning innings in the final, a century that virtually single
handedly won India the match that, without him, they would have lost by a long
way. He scored 246 runs in the tournament at a healthy average of 49.20 and a
good strike rate of 75.00. He averages over 60 in U19 tournaments so far and
averages 43.41 in first class cricket! Put him into the Indian senior team
already! Comparisons with Virat Kohli in the 2008 U19 WC are obvious and we
know how well Kohli has done lately; so why not do the same thing for Chand? He
looks ready.
Kamal Passi was
probably the best of India's bowlers, taking 10 wickets at an average of 15.20
and an economy of 3.52, though this did include 6/23 against Zimbabwe.
Sandeep Sharma
was one of 2 Indian bowlers to take 12 wickets, at an average of 15.75 and an
economy of 3.62, which included a best of 4/54, which he saved for the final.
Ravikant Singh
also took 12 wickets, at an average of 14.91 and an economy of 3.97, with his
best figures of 5/21 being against lowly Papua New Guina.
IRELAND
George Dockrell
was playing as an average player, aged 20 years 35 days, and unsurprisingly was
Ireland's standout performer - unsurprising given that he has played 30 ODIs
over the past 2 years! His 10 wickets were at an average of 12.30 and an
economy of 2.05. I would be impressed, except that he is an overage player with
senior international experience.
Graeme McCarter
doesn't have international experience and was slightly younger at 19 years 321
days. He took 1 more wicket than Dockrell, 11 wickets at an average of 14.05
and economy of 4.05. As a medium pace bowler he could be making his senior
debut in the near future.
NAMIBIA
Nobody was outstanding.
NEPAL
Rahul Vishwakarma
was ok, taking 13 wickets at an average of 12.69 and an economy of 4.41,
boosted by 6/3 against lowly Papua New Guinea. Nonetheless, he managed 3/62
against England and 2 wickets against both Australia and New Zealand. He also
scored 57 runs at an average of 19.00. A pretty good player for an associate
team.
NEW ZEALAND
Matthew Quinn
managed 10 wickets at an average of 16.10 and a strike rate of 4.20 and was
probably the outstanding player.
Robert O'Donnell
was often the only batsman doing anything for the New Zealand team and finished
with 232 runs at an average of 38.66 and strike rate of 59.79. That might not
sound too great but he was often carrying the whole team. Great maturity shown
for a player who is still only 17 years of age.
PAKISTAN
Mohammad Nawaz
was probably the oustanding performer, scoring 199 runs at an average of 49.75
and a strike rate of 100.00 exactly on top of taking 10 wickets at an average
of 18.60 and an economy of 3.26! He was second on Pakistan's list of most runs
scored and also second on most wickets taken! He did do considerably better
against weaker teams though, but at 18 years of age he is surely a player for
the future for Pakistan! A left arm spinner who can bat, and can bash it, would
be invaluable for Pakistan. Another Shahid Afridi perhaps?
Babar Azam topped
Pakistan's run scoring list, and was second overall, scoring 287 runs at an
average of 57.40 and a strike rate of 65.52. He was a bit too slow to be
desired for Pakistan's limited overs team but if he can keep scoring that
heavily - as he also has at first class level so far - he could be invaluable
in tests, in a Mohammad Yousuf type role. Very big talent - still 17 years of
age too!
Zia-ul-Haq took
11 wickets at an average of 14.27 and an economy of 3.55 and as a left arm
quick he already has a more than impressive first class record. The only
problem for him is that there are already plenty of other Pakistan fast bowlers
running around. He looks completely ready though, and at 17 years of age is
genuinely young!
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Christopher Kent
had a decent tournament, scoring 205 runs at an average of 41.00 and a strike
rate of 71.67 as well as 7 wickets at an average of 17.57 and an economy of
5.12 - easily topping PNG's run scoring (almost double the next best, both in
terms of total runs and average) and second on most wickets. His century came
against Afghanistan though and he also took 5/45 against Zimbabwe. Against the
better teams he didn't do nearly as well.
SCOTLAND
Ruaidhri Smith took
12 wickets at an average of 17.25 and an economy of 3.98 to be Scotland's
standout player. He took wickets in all but 2 matches - against Pakistan and
Afghanistan but managed 3/34 against New Zealand and also took 4/45 against
Afghanistan in the first of their 2 meetings.
SOUTH AFRICA
Quinton de Kock
had such an amazing tournament, scoring 284 runs at an average of 47.33 and
strike rate of 102.52, including 126 against Namibia and 95 against Bangladesh.
Sadly, he failed a few times too, notably scoring 1 in their semi final against
Australia, which they lost. de Kock is also their wicket keeper and took an
amazing 15 catches in the 6 matches! He averages over 60 in first class cricket
and has to be in the South African senior team now, especially as Mark Boucher
has just retired.
Theunis de Bruyn
scored 221 runs at an average of 44.20 and a strike rate of 93.64, including 54
against England, 42 against Sri Lanka and 63 against Bangladesh. He also took 6
wickets at an average of 8.83 and an economy of 4.81, though he only bowled 11
overs total in the tournament and 4 of his 6 wickets came against lowly
Namibia. Still pretty good though.
Corné Dry took 8
wickets at an average of 14.75 and an economy of 3.93, to lead South Africa's
wicket tally, in spite of only playing 4 of the 6 matches. A right arm fast
bowler he is bound to be in demand for the senior team.
Chad Bowes
finished 5th on the leading run scorers in the entire tournament, but was only
2nd in South Africa's, just 1 run behind the wicket keeper de Kock. His 283
runs were scored at an average of 47.16 and strike rate of 75.26, scoring 46
against each of Australia, England and Sri Lanka as well as 115 against lowly
Namibia. A decent talent, though his strike rate was a bit lower than he'd like.
He has already made his first class debut and so far has done pretty well,
suggesting that South Africa have a lot of talent coming through.
SRI LANKA
Lahiru Madushanka
was clearly Sri Lanka's standout player, taking 15 wickets to finish 2nd on the
overall wicket tally, at an average of 8.66 and an economy of 3.52. This
included 6/24 against Ireland and 4/15 against Namibia though. A right arm fast
bowler, he could be dangerous, but is yet to make his first class debut.
Sandun Weerakkody
scored 189 runs at an average of 63.00, largely due to 2 not outs. He had a
strike rate of 94.02. He scored an unbeaten 112 against Ireland. He also bowled
17.2 overs but only managed 1 wicket. He apparently keeps wickets sometimes but
didn't in this tournament.
WEST INDIES
Kraigg Braithwaite
was clearly the standout performer, scoring 213 runs at an average of 53.25 and
a strike rate of 55.03, but then again he should be scoring so much given that
he has played in 9 test matches over the past 12 months. His strike rate was a
little worrying, suggesting that he still has a long way to go before he is
going to be useful in limited over internationals of any kind.
Kyle Mayers was
also impressive, taking 12 wickets at an average of 11.83 and an economy of
3.78, including 3/42 against New Zealand and also wickets against Pakistan and
England.
ZIMBABWE
Luke Jongwe was
probably Zimbabwe's best player in a disappointing tournament, taking 10
wickets at an average of 19.70 and an economy of 5.07. He only played in 5
matches though and took most of his wickets against weaker teams - going for
0/63 against India; but considering how badly Zimbabwe went, he was still the
best player.
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