Australian team for 2002 ICC Under-19 World Cup announced

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced today the final squad of 14 to travel to New Zealand for the 2002 ICC Under-19 World Cup, played from 14 January - 10 February 2002.

The squad is:

Team management - Brian Freedman (manager), Wayne Phillips (coach), Max Pfitzner (physiotherapist).

The squad, announced at the Commonwealth Bank Under-19 Championship Series dinner in Newcastle tonight, will be captained by Victorian Bushranger Cameron White.

The leg-spinner, who is currently playing in the Pura Cup match against the Southern Redbacks at the MCG, said he was excited about leading the side in New Zealand.

"I had the honour of captaining an Australian under-19 team to New Zealand recently and enjoyed the challenge," White said.

"We performed well against the Kiwis then, but this time we're playing against a number of nations for the under-19 World Cup, so the competition will be red-hot. I can't wait to get back there."

Former Australian wicketkeeper/batsman Wayne Phillips, who will coach the Australian team, said choosing the final squad of 14 was not easy.

"Selecting the under-19 world cup squad was an extremely difficult task because Australian cricket has a talented crop of under-19 players," Phillips said.

"This was evident at the Commonwealth Bank Under-19 Championship Series in Newcastle, where many players from each state and territory performed exceptionally well on a national stage.

"The squad leaving our shores in January will be a quality cricket outfit sure to challenge the other competing nations. The squad's strengths lie evenly over all areas of the game."

The Australians will be looking to go one better at this World Cup after getting to the semi-finals in the two previous competitions. In Sri Lanka two years ago, Australia lost the semi-final to eventual champions India. In South Africa in 1998-99, the Australians suffered the same fate, defeated by eventual champions England.

At the 2002 ICC Under-19 World Cup, India will defend its title against the other nine Test nations plus Kenya, Canada, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Scotland.

"After competing against each other at the Newcastle under-19 series, the players are keen to come together and perform for Australia," Phillips said.

"I'm looking forward to working with them to ensure they are well-prepared for the trip to New Zealand."

The squad's preparation involves a pre-tournament camp beginning on 6 January in Adelaide. The camp includes three limited-over matches against the England under-19 squad, which is stopping in Australia on the way to New Zealand. Dates for these matches have not been confirmed. The camp also includes customary player briefings on the ACB's Code of Behaviour and a fit-out of World Cup playing apparel.

The squad departs Adelaide for Christchurch on Sunday 13 January 2002.

The Australian under-19 squad was chosen by a selection panel consisting of ACB Director Trevor Robertson, former Australian player and Chairman of Selectors for the senior Australian team Trevor Hohns, former Australian player and acting Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy Head Coach Wayne Phillips and former Australian player Brian Taber.