Teenage Chapman ready to play man's role in Hong Kong's fight

Mark Chapman may be the baby of the side, but all eyes are on him as Hong Kong, hosting its first big international tournament, aim for a top-two finish in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament, which gets under way today.

He's only 16, in a side which averages 21.3 years old, but Chapman has been given the role of babysitting Hong Kong as they cast ambitious eyes on a berth in the World Cricket League Division Two competition in Dubai.

To do that, Hong Kong will have to finish in the top two. And first up as their opponents in the six-team tournament are the United States, at Kowloon Cricket Club.

Denmark meet Italy at Hong Kong Cricket Club and Oman come up against the pre-tournament favourites, Papua New Guinea, at Mission Road.

He may be new to handling a razor, but Chapman is well versed with both bat and ball, which he proved on the brief warm-up tour to Sri Lanka this month.

Unexpectedly, the left-arm spinner finished as the leading wicket taker - with eight - and also proved his worth with the bat, making an accomplished 66 as he led the team to victory over an under-23 squad of a first division club in Colombo, which Sri Lankan test captain Kumar Sangakkara plays for.

'I like to call myself an all-rounder, but I guess my main role is with the bat,' Chapman says. 'The side has got many spinners and occasionally I get thrown the ball. But as long as I'm helping out the team, it doesn't matter what role I play.'

The left-handed batsman will figure prominently in the plans of Charlie Burke, Hong Kong coach, who has slotted him in at number four, behind openers Courtney Kruger and Roy Lamsam, with Hussain Butt coming in at one drop.

If the top four get going and set the foundation in the first 20 or 30 overs, Hong Kong has firepower in the form of talented youngsters like Irfan Ahmed, Nizakat Khan and Waqas Barkat, and skipper Najeeb Amar could deal the killer blow, especially in the batting 'powerplay'.

'I'm really looking forward to this,' Chapman says confidently. 'This is my first major tournament for the senior team, although I have represented Hong Kong before through the age groups [including at the Under-19 World Cup]. I believe we can do really well here.' Chapman is currently on summer holidays from his boarding school, King's College, Auckland, New Zealand, one of the top cricketing schools in the country. Chapman turns out for the First XI.

'But I learned my game in Hong Kong playing for the Junior Gappers at Hong Kong Cricket Club,' he said. 'I was born in Hong Kong and went to Bradbury and Island School before being boarded in New Zealand. My dad went to the same school and I followed as it is a cricketing school.'

With a composure beyond his years, Chapman presents a solid figure in the middle order for Hong Kong. His bowling has been an added bonus, and the teenager also brings vitality to the side with his outstanding fielding - as Assad Vala, Papua New Guinea opener, found out when he was run out with a direct hit from Chapman in a practice match on Thursday.

'He is an outstanding talent,' says Burke, who hopes to make the most of Chapman's summer holiday. 'He is batting well and hopefully we can get the partnerships going.' Despite his central role in the team for now, the future is unclear.

'It will all depend on my studies and if I have holidays,' Chapman says. 'If it is the right time, I would love to play for Hong Kong.'