A stepping stone to success
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Some of the most famous names in world cricket recall their experiences of playing in the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup.
Sanath Jayasuriya
It was my first U/19 tour for Sri Lanka. Coming from Matara, I found it difficult to travel to Colombo. And to get selected to go to Australia with the U/19 team was a dream come true. Practicing with players with whom I never played before was a big experience. So getting picked to go to Australia to play the U/19 World Cup and scoring runs there was a nice experience
When we were playing school cricket in Matara, we never got an opportunity to play with schools in Colombo. We always played with other outstation schools. So when I got selected to go to Colombo and practice with the kids who were picked alongside me was a new thing for me.
Brian Lara captained West Indies. Atherton captained England. Inzamam was the captain of Pakistan. Most of the players have played for their respective teams. We reached the quarter-final stage. We played well and I scored runs. And the good thing was most of the cricketers whom we played in the World Cup played for their individual countries and we met each other often.
I realized one has to work hard to be selected in the Sri Lankan team and stay in the team. I had seen lot of players had come in and gone and I did not want to do that. I wanted to keep performing and work hard
There should be more U/19 tournament like these. This is how you get exposure to play at international level. I got the exposure and I came up with a good performance. It eventually helps you to establish yourself as an international player in your own country.
Upul Tharanga
I played actually in two U/19 World Cups - 2002 and 2004. It was a very good opportunity for all those young players playing at the U/19 level. I played at U/19 level and that why I played international level earlier. I performed well in the U/19 World Cup and it was very good tournaments for me.
At U/19 level, you play against different countries, with different players. The difference between school and U/19 level is here you learn how the international players are doing. You also gain experience in different wickets in different countries.
We played a lot of guys from India who later went on to play for Indian senior team like Irfan Pathan and Parthiv Patel. We played against South Africa, Australia, England. Every team had a very good side. At least one or two players from each side went on to play for their country at the highest level.
When you play in schools, you are just playing cricket. At U/19 World Cup, you learn about different wickets, different conditions, how to build an innings.
For young players looking to play international cricket, U/19 level is the best time to learn. One can learn how to be mentally strong. You cannot learn these things when you are 27 or 28 years old.
Alistair Cook
The U/19 World Cup was my first proper tour. It was a real hard work as when you go to Bangladesh, you do not stay in the greatest hotels. But what I remember most is the experience of staying together as a group of young lads trying to win a tournament, trying to progress through and trying to do the best you can. It was a tough tour playing under the conditions that we had. I have fond memories and it helped my cricket a long way.
It was my first time in the sub-continent. So when I came back to India and Sri Lanka in a couple of years time, you have half an idea of what it is going to be like. And the U/19 World Cup also gives you an opportunity to compare yourself against the best around the world. It was a great eye opener.
I remember the West Indies team because they beat us. It had Ravi Rampaul, Denesh Ramdin.
The most important lesson I learnt was to stay together as a side of 15 players when things did not go right. If you did not have a good day you have to stay positive because it affects the entire community of 15 players.
To play against the best of the world against cricketers of your age and trying to win a tournament is a big occasion.
Ian Bell
I think the U/19 World Cup gave me an opportunity to play against guys all around the world with different style of game. As a 19 year old when you come to the subcontinent it is very good for your development and I was very lucky to benefit from the opportunity
In the U/19 World Cup I played against Yuvraj Singh and Michael Clarke. I keep bumping into them still in the circuit.
I wish I scored more runs in that World Cup. It was not the best of the World Cup for me and England. But certainly the experience of playing against different countries and different style of cricket was helpful.
Albie Morkel
Our World Cup was held in Sri Lanka in 2000. My best memory was that it was my first big tour away from home. And also to play in conditions in the sub continent. It was very foreign. We were excited to go overseas and to play in the World Cup. Experinces in Sri Lanka can be very different -different smells, different foodt, different kind of conditions, different kind of wickets. These are the things that have stuck with me. Ever since, I have come to Sri Lanka thrice and I have always enjoyed in Sri Lanka.
At the under 19 level, you play against the best of the players of your age around the world and measure yourself against them. In South Africa when you play in your area you are not always playing against the top quality opposition. So when you go to the World Cup, that?s when you can see how good you are. And if you do well there, it just helps you do well in your career.
South Africa were quite unfortunate and were knocked out without playing a game. The opposition we played against were USA and Ireland and smaller teams like that. There were other teams like Australia, West Indies and many of the players have gone on to play Test cricket for their teams like Shane Watson for Australia, Dwayne Bravo of West Indies and a couple of guys from New Zealand.
It was the first time we experienced a disapoointment under a team environment. We were knocked out without playing a game. We had a strong team with the likes of Grame Smith, Andrew Puttick, Johann Myburgh, Jacques Rudolph, Jonathan Trott and we were one of the favourites to win the tournament. So when were knocked out it was the biggest disappointment of my life. So sitting in the dressing room watching Nepal beat Kenya to go through was a low point of my life. Definitely when you play outside your home in a big tournament in a country like India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka where the conditions are different, it?s an awesome experience for young players.
Yuvraj Singh and Mohamed Kaif was also represent India in 2000's edition!!
hopefully some of todays U-19 players can make it to the senior level :P
http://iccevents.yahoo.com/features/...es.html#sanath
Originally Posted by Wibha
I just played 1 match for my school when i was 14 
V Kohli and Sangwan could turn up for Delhi's IPL team 
But i enjoyed d match... 
definite-a we are winning :P
7 gone 
ball literally plucked from the air
