U-15_WC_IN_ENG_1996_14OCT94

World cup for under-15s - Christopher Martin-Jenkins

A Junior World Cup involving under-15 teams from at least eight countries, will be staged in England in 1996 with a final at Lord's on Aug 24. The Lombard World Challenge was launched at Lord's yesterday by the sponsoring finance company and the English Schools Cricket Association, who will organise the event. Teams from England, Australia, West Indies, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Holland will play 55-over matches in two leagues based at Oundle School, near Peterborough, and the Shell Lensbury Club in London. The top two from each group will play semi-finals at two Test grounds, probably Headingley and Trent Bridge. New Zealand and Sri Lanka have also been invited. To talented young cricketers a final at Lord's, especially one given a "world" label, can only be a wonderful incentive and this event should be seen as such rather than as a serious contribution, in itself, to the development of cricket in schools. Nonetheless, the ESCA, who already organise over 1,000 intercounty matches each summer for boys aged 11 to 19, will be keen to involve Lombard in associated activities. ESCA already stage an under-15 festival each season and selection procedures are tried and tested. Had the World Challenge been played in 1972, David Gower and Mike Gatting would certainly have been in the England side; a decade later Graham Thorpe and Mark Ramprakash would have been involved. This year David Sales, who at the age of 16 made 70 not out for Northamptonshire in their final Sunday League match three weeks ago, would no doubt have been England's leading player. Other countries are not so well organised at this age-group. Only South Africa and England have yet organised representative cricket so young. Whether it is the right age is questionable. As in all school sport, anyone under 15 on Sept 1 is eligible, so many of those taking part will already be closer to 16 when the tournament starts. But had the Junior World Cup been pitched at 17 (post GCSE) or 19 (post A level) the physical and technical development of those involved would have been more advanced. Inevitably only a few of those lucky enough to play at Lord's in August 1996 will go on to play for their countries. That point made, any investment which encourages school cricketers at a time when they may be tempted towards greener-looking pastures must be a good one. Hubert Doggart, ESCA's president since 1965, said yesterday: "It's an exciting concept that will encourage excellence and be a memorable experience for those taking part."

Thanks :: The Daily Telegraph