raunak kapoor
The 15th U-19 World Cup once again brought together talented players from around the world. There were memorable captains, table-toppers and established star brothers. ESPNcricinfo’s teams of the tournament are:
7 matches, 309 runs, average 44.14, SR 81.31
Solid at the top, Dixon was the only batsman among the top five run-getters in the tournament to fail to hit a hundred, but under pressure on a difficult course at Kimberley and in the semi-finals and final at Benoni. Dixon’s contribution was invaluable. He was Australia’s outstanding batsman in this tournament.
6 matches, 287 runs, average 57.40, SR 94.09
One half of the tournament’s most destructive opening pair, Pretorius deftly balanced caution and aggression. He got even better as the tournament progressed, finishing as the top scorer for South Africa in the semi-final with three half-centuries. When Juan James suffered an injury in the thrilling opener against West Indies, he took off his gloves and bowled nine off-spin handicap overs.
7 matches, 304 runs, average 50.66, SR 83.28
The Australian captain is leading his team to third place after scoring one of the most difficult goals in hundreds of tournaments against England. Wibgen’s tactical genius was on display throughout the season, culminating in Australia’s brave selection call and decision to bat first in overcast skies in the final against India, where Wibgen’s 48 runs on an early wicket lifted his team to the title. led me on the path to
7 matches, 397 runs, average 56.71, SR 77.69
Finishing as the tournament’s top scorer may not have been a big deal for the Indian captain who lost in the final, but Sahara was the main reason why India won the group stage and the Super Six. He led India’s extraordinary fightback after being forced to the ropes in the semi-final against South Africa.
Matches 7, Runs 360, Average 60.00, SR 98.09, Weeks 7, Average 26.57, Econ 3.63
The only batsman to score 200 runs in the tournament, Mushir was India’s only all-rounder who contributed effectively with bat and ball. Although he failed with the bat in the semi-final and final, he still took seven wickets with his left-arm spin.
7 matches, 303 runs, average 60.60, SR 116.53
Das is a great talent with his calm under pressure and rare ability to counterattack with good balls to the boundary. Without a doubt, he is the most pedigree and skilled batsman.
Match 5, Runs 207, Average 69.00, SR 109.52
If there is one player who made it into the squad for the tournament despite the team not making it to the last four, it is the West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman from Antigua. Against South Africa he nearly pulled off an incredible heist all by himself, followed by a stroke-filled half-century against Scotland. The bowling attack will continue as Das and Andrew could end the innings.
7 matches, 21 weeks, average 9.71, eco 3.81
tournament player. With a left-arm swing and good tempo, and the ability to rush batsmen with his front and back foot, he finished with his second-highest wicket count in a single tournament at the U-19 World Cup. He also won the Player of the Match award. South Africa may remember this World Cup as the one that discovered Mapaka, much like the 2014 tournament that discovered Kagiso Rabada.
6 matches, 18 weeks, average 12.38, eco 4.12
Shah, who took important wickets in every match, almost single-handedly guided Pakistan to the semi-finals after displaying some breathtaking seam bowling in the virtual quarter-finals against Bangladesh. He has pace and his control has gotten better with each game. It may not be long before Naseem Shah’s younger brother bowls alongside him in the first team.
6 matches, 14 weeks, average 11.71, eco 3.79
It’s hard to single out one player from the formidable three-man pace attack that was a key factor in Australia’s finish as champions, but Vidler was truly the leader of the attack, attacking with the new ball at every turn. Tom Straker and Marli Beardman won man of the match awards in the semifinals and finals, respectively, but it was Vidler who applied the pressure and opened the floodgates.
7 matches, 18 weeks, average 10.27, eco 2.68
Pandey’s tournament, like Mashir’s, tapered slightly towards the knockout, but was virtually unplayable in Bloemfontein. It is no easy feat for a left-arm finger spinner to finish as the second-best wicket-taker in the tournament under South African conditions.
12th person Nathan Edward (west indies)
Matches 5, Runs 101, Average 50.50, SR 53.43, Weeks 11, Average 17.81, Eco 4.61
Honorable mention to Edward of the West Indies, one of the few genuine seam bowling all-rounders on display. His effort in the clean sweep against England produced one of the most important results of the tournament and soon after, caused trouble for Australia’s top order. The left-arm seamer from St Maarten was a real bargain for the men in maroon.
Raunak Kapoor is the Deputy Editor (Video) and Lead Presenter at ESPNcricinfo. @RaunakRK