Australian Under-19 World Cup training squad announced

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) has announced a 26-man preliminary training squad for the 2002 ICC Under-19 World Cup to be played in New Zealand during February.

The squad was chosen by a selection panel consisting of ACB Director Trevor Robertson (Chairman of Selectors), current senior Australian Chairman of Selectors Trevor Hohns, former Australian wicket-keeper and head coach of the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy Rod Marsh and former Australian wicket-keeper and ACB youth selector Brian Taber.

Commenting on the squad, which is taking part in an initial training camp this week at the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy in Adelaide, Australian head coach Rod Marsh said;

"We believe we have selected a very talented squad capable of excellent results next February. The World Cup is a difficult assignment, yet one that has the ability to bring out the best in players. The challenge for this squad is to try and realise their potential in a pressure environment, which can hopefully fast-track their development as aspiring young cricketers."

The squad will undertake intense preparation prior to the World Cup with a tour of New Zealand in October, practice matches played in Adelaide during November, followed by the ACB Under-19 Youth Championships scheduled for December in Newcastle.

At all times in the lead up to the World Cup, players from outside the preliminary squad can be added to the Australian list at the discretion of the selection panel.

The solid preparation for the World Cup is part of the ACB's firm commitment to Australia's on-going development of elite cricketers at the under-19 level.

"The performance of players in Australia's youth competitions is vital to the on-going success of the senior Australian Test and one-day international team. It's no coincidence that several players currently enjoying success for Australia have been exposed to the ACB's under-age programs and successful junior representative teams," Mr Marsh said.

The ICC Under-19 World Cup is held every two years, bringing together the world's best young cricketers from the nine Test playing nations and seven developing cricket nations.

Australia performed credibly to reach the semi-final of the 1999 Under-19 World Cup, staged in Sri Lanka, before losing to eventual champions India.

The ICC Under-19 World Cup will take place in New Zealand from 12 January to 10 February 2002.

The preliminary training squad for ICC Under-19 World Cup consists of the following players: