Preview: England U19s v Australia U19s

The first of the ICC U19 CWC Super League quarter-finals is a mouth-watering encounter between England and Australia face, who face off at the Queenstown Events Centre on Tuesday 23 January. Both of these sides will feel confident of victory after some impressive performances in the group stages.

Form guide

England are undefeated in the tournament so far, with comfortable wins in each of their three group games. Their batsmen have been in fine form, with hundreds from Liam Banks, Harry Brook and Will Jacks the highlights. Their bowling attack has also been potent and versatile, with 10 English bowlers claiming at least one wicket in the group stages.

Australia won two of their three group games to finish second in Group B. That one defeat came against India, where the pace of Kamlesh Nagarkoti proved too much for their batsmen. Their other opponents in Group B presented few difficulties, especially Papua New Guinea who they brushed aside by 311 runs after Jason Ralston claimed 7/15, the best-ever figures at the ICC U19 CWC.

Players to watch

Will Jacks (Eng)

With a brilliant hundred against Canada and 73 not out against Namibia, Jacks has some serious form heading into this match versus England’s fiercest rivals. Against Canada, batting at No.3, he was in a serious hurry, making 102 from 82 balls as England racked up a massive 383/7.

Nathan McSweeney (Aus)

The right-hand opener has only had the one innings in the tournament so far, but what an innings it was. McSweeney blasted 156 runs from just 111 balls against Papua New Guinea to race along at a strike rate of 140. Something similar in this big match would do very nicely for his team.

World Cup history

England are ever-presents in this tournament but haven’t won it since 1998, when a team featuring Owais Shah, Rob Key and Graeme Swann triumphed in South Africa. Indeed, 1998 was the last time they got to the final, and with only two semi-final showings in 2004 and 2006 to show from the nine subsequent tournament appearances, this year’s vintage will be keen to stem this run of underachievement.

Australia won the first-ever ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 1988, and have since added the 2002 and 2010 titles to their collection. Featuring among the teams were future international cricketers Stuart Law, George Bailey, Shaun Marsh and Josh Hazlewood. Australia chose not to compete at the 2016 edition of the tournament due to security concerns.

Head to head

These two teams have met many times at U19 level. This will be the 36th match between them, with Australia having the best of the contest, winning 23 of the previous meetings with England victors in 11 and one no result. The most recent match between them came in a 2015 thriller at Worcester, a match that England won by four wickets with just two balls remaining.

Forecast

There has been some rain around in Queenstown in recent days but the forecast for Tuesday is very good. With a top temperature of 27°C and no cloud cover expected, it should be a belting day for cricket.

Squads

England: Harry Brook (c), Liam Banks, Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Savin Perera, Euan Woods, Fin Trenouth, Jack Davies, Tom Scriven, Ethan Bamber, Luke Hollman, Adam Finch, Dillon Pennington, Prem Sisodiya, Roman Walker

**Australia:**Jason Sangha (c), Will Sutherland, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Jack Edwards, Zak Evans, Jarrod Freeman, Ryan Hadley, Baxter Holt, Nathan McSweeney, Jonathan Merlo, Lloyd Pope, Jason Ralston, Param Uppal, Austin Waugh