Craig Cachopa to lead NZ U-19 squad

Auckland's Craig Cachopa will lead the hosts New Zealand in the Under-19 World Cup that begins in January. He was the captain of the Auckland side which finished second in the recent National Under-19 Championship. He was also a member of the youth squad that toured England in 2008.

The 15-member squad for the tournament includes players who featured in the 2008 edition in Malaysia such as allrounders Corey Anderson and Harry Boam in addition to wicketkeeper Michael Bracewell, the nephew of former coach of the senior team John Bracewell. Anderson and Boam are in their second year in first-class cricket along with Doug Bracewell, cousin of Michael.

"The Under-19 Cricket World Cup gives our younger players a wonderful opportunity to test their ability against the best of their peers in the international arena and to set the platform for successful first-class playing careers" the team's coach Chris Kuggeleign said. "The team is well balanced, with half the team having already played for the New Zealand Under-19s and a number who impressed at the recent National Under-19 tournament."

New Zealand, who will be based in Christchurch for the group round of the tournament, will begin their campaign against Canada on January 16. The other teams in New Zealand's pool are Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Prior to the competition, the hosts will take on Pakistan in a warm-up three-match series in Blenheim between January 3 and January 7.

Squad: Craig Cachopa (Auckland - capt), Corey Anderson (Canterbury), Tom Blundell (Wellington), Harry Boam (Wellington), Doug Bracewell (Central Districts), Michael Bracewell (Otago - wk), Dane Cleaver (Central Districts), Jono Hickey (Northern Districts), Tim Johnston (Canterbury), Tom Latham (Canterbury), Jimmy Neesham (Auckland), Bevan Small (Central Districts), Mattie Thomas (Northern Districts), Logan van Beek (Canterbury), Ben Wheeler (Central Districts).