South African U-19 players to look out for in future Print E-mail
Category: Features
Written by Luke Tagg   
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 20:15
South Africa's U-19 side got sweet revenge against India in the 5th-place playoff at the ICC U-19 World Cup in New Zealand on Wednesday, having lost to them in the final two years ago.

I didn't get to watch the game as SuperSport were only broadcasting the semi-final between Australia and Sri Lanka, which the Aussies won with some awesome fast bowling.

But I've been tracking the progress of the side ever since the World Cup started, largely because I was left uneasy over the recent selection issues faced by the Test side, which highlighted a startling lack of depth in South African cricket.

I watched Wayne Parnell on his way to Man of the Tournament in 2008 and had a great perspective on him long before he joined the national ODI side against Australia.

I figured I might unearth such a gem again this year, but unfortunately we haven't been televised since losing to Sri Lanka in the quarterfinals and thus have limited proof of future excellence.

I can tell you this, though: there are some damn fine young players at the moment. They lost the key knockout quarterfinal but won their remaining playoff games, meaning they were the only side in the tournament (aside from the two finalists, Pakistan and Australia) to lose only one game.

Sound familiar? No? 1996 World Cup?

The first player to watch out for is the left-hand opener, Dominic Hendricks. He's actually already played three first class List A games for Gauteng, scoring 51 on debut.

He was sensational in this World Cup, scoring 391 runs in six games at 97.95 - the leading runscorer in the tournament. It's likely he'll remain so, as someone would have to score a massive hundred in the final to overtake him.

His scores were as follows:

vs Ireland: 47 off 49
vs USA: 75* off 103
vs Australia: 94 off 99
vs Sri Lanka: 5 off 10
vs New Zealand: 107* off 141
vs India: 63 off 87

A century and three fifties in six games - not bad going. The only game he didn't fire in was the only game South Africa lost - no coincidence there, I shouldn't think.

The key point I've been working to is that Hendricks is an opening bat. We're a bit short on those these days and although he's still too inexperienced for the national side, it wouldn't surprise me to see him there in a few years' time.

The leading wicket-taker in the tournament was also a South African - Graham Hume, whose 13 wickets in six games came at 15.53, at 3.37 runs per over. He also bowled double the amount of maidens bowled by his next highest competitor - 16.

He's also unlikely to be deposed at the top of the table - his nearest competitors in the final would have to take four wickets apiece to equal his haul.

He's a big unit and gets swing and good bounce on an awkward length, bowling around 135km/h. A fine prospect and should be making his debut in first class cricket anytime soon.

I also like the look of left arm orthodox spinner Dale Deeb, who has nine first-class matches and four List A games playing for Gauteng. He only took six wickets in the World Cup but got good turn and kept it tight.

Colin Ackermann is a top order batsman who scored two good half-centuries in the World Cup and appears to have excellent technique.

Swing bowler Sammy Mofokeng only played in three games and should probably have played in more - he took five wickets at 24.20. He's played one first-class match and two List A games for Northerns.

With the best bowler and best batsman of the tournament you'd have to say the World Cup has been a major disappointment for South Africa, whilst providing reassurance that all is well in the junior leagues.

The problem for South African cricket is that these youngsters don't often get onto the biggest stage - either they don't make it to domestic first class cricket, or once they get there they stagnate.

It will be interesting to see in a few years from now whether any of the names I've mentioned are regulars in the national side.

One thing I can promise you is that two of the Australian U-19 bowlers will be in their national side before long: Josh Hazlewood and Alister McDermott. Bet on it and be afraid - be very afraid.

These guys are massive (Hazlewood is almost two metres tall) and both are getting close to speeds of 140km/h already. I watched them destroy the Sri Lankan top order to get to the final of the World Cup in 11 overs of high quality fast bowling on a placid strip that was ideal for batting - and there were eight lefthanders in the Sri Lankan lineup.

McDermott is the spitting image of his father Craig, who was Australia's best bowler in the early nineties. Bowls just like him too.

Hazlewood is special - his enormous height gives him the same advantage Morne Morkel has when it comes to bounce and he has unerring accuracy. The poor Sri Lankans didn't have a clue and he's going to be a real problem in the future.

You read it here first. Or not. Depending where you read it first, of course.

I'd have loved to have seen South Africa make the final, but five wins out of six ain't bad.

Not that Ray Jennings will agree - if the team hasn't been made to run at least seven laps of New Zealand by now I'll break my own knees with my trusty old Gray-Nicolls.

Doesn't lose well, does Jet. Takes it mighty personal. The angriest coach in world cricket. Legend, dude.
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