Under 19 World Cup Prospects
The tournament was organised so that only four teams were eliminated after the pool stages. You may or may not feel that is the best way of going about things. The unlucky quartet were Indonesia, Scotland, USA and Zimbabwe.
The remaining twelve are divided into two, allowing the tag Super Sixes to advertise the next round of proceedings. ‘Tremendous Twelves’ doesn’t have quite the same ring.
This is how the Pool Stages finished:
|
Group A |
Played |
Win |
Loss |
Pts |
|
Bangladesh |
3 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
|
Australia |
3 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|
Sri Lanka |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
USA |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Group B |
Played |
Win |
Loss |
Pts |
|
England |
3 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
|
Pakistan |
3 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|
Rwanda |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
Zimbabwe |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Group C |
Played |
Win |
Loss |
Pts |
|
New Zealand |
3 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
|
West Indies |
3 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|
Ireland |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
Indonesia |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Group D |
Played |
Win |
Loss |
Pts |
|
India |
3 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
|
South Africa |
3 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|
UAE |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
Scotland |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
The one outstanding shock is Bangladesh’s position in Pool A ahead of Australia.
The head coach’s words spoken in the Oz dressing-room may not have been as colourful as for a men’s team in the same position, but the players were given an early warning that nothing can be taken for granted in this newest of new competitions.
That one result was all the justification the ICC needed for introducing a women’s version of an Under 19 World Cup. Its effects will best be seen at the follow-up version. How far and how fast will the less favoured nations have advanced after their wonderful adventure in South Africa?
There will always be a greater element of luck in the T20 format. The shorter the game, the larger the effect it can have. Quality and experience will play a big part; so too will fitness. In the heat of the South African Highveld players will find a sequence of even higher quality matches testing in the extreme.
If selectors feel the need to keep choosing the same key players, that will place them under a great strain. Teams with the strongest depth of talent will have a clear advantage in the knock-out stages.
Further matches are scheduled every day of the coming week, bar Thursday. A pause for breath!
The semis and final take place two days apart, on the Friday 27th and Sunday 29th January, at the JB Marks Oval, Potchestroom. At least the players will be familiar with the conditions there.
We can only hope that the curator is able to maintain the quality of pitches we have seen thus far. That is always a pressure-point for competitions of this size.
