Key Players of Group B in the ICC U19 World Cup 2024

As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the ICC U19 World Cup 2024, Group B promises to be a battleground for emerging talent and future cricketing stars. Let’s delve into the key players from each team in this group and what they bring to the table.

England

Leading the charge for England is skipper Ben McKinney, a Durham representative who showcased his prowess in the recent Youth ODI series against Australia, striking at an impressive 129 across four innings. His deputy, Luc Benkenstein, a leg-spinning all-rounder, earned his place in the Pakistan Junior League’s Team of the Tournament in 2022. Benkenstein’s notable performance includes a spectacular 6/42 against Glamorgan in a one-day match.

Bowling strength is further bolstered by Eddie Jack, who secured a memorable five-wicket haul against Bangladesh. With Warwickshire’s Hamza Shaikh leading the run tally and all-round contributions expected from Jaydn Denly, England enters the tournament as a force to be reckoned with.

South Africa

Left-arm quick Kwena Maphaka headlines South Africa’s U19 squad, having already turned heads in Provincial Division Two cricket. Maphaka, a standout in the last U19 World Cup at the age of 15, recently delivered a five-wicket haul in a preparation tri-series match against Afghanistan. Batter Steve Stolk is another player to watch, showcasing an explosive batting style with 180 runs at an average of 45 and a remarkable strike rate of 134 in the U19 tri-series.

Adding depth to the squad is right-armer seamer Nqobani Mokoena, who can be a valuable contributor with both ball and bat. South Africa’s U19 team presents a formidable challenge with a blend of pace and power in their arsenal.

West Indies

Jamaican batter Jordan Johnson returns after featuring in the 2022 tournament at just 16 years old. Having made List A and First Class debuts, Johnson brings valuable experience to the West Indies U19 squad. Barbados wicketkeeper-batter Jewel Andrew has proven his worth on a youth tour of Sri Lanka, while fast bowler Isai Thorne has been a handful for Ireland’s Emerging group, amassing 12 wickets across two First Class matches for the West Indies Academy.

Vice-captain Nathan Sealey, a left-arm spinner with burgeoning batting skills, adds to the promise of the West Indies team. With a mix of seasoned campaigners and exciting young talent, the Caribbean side is ready to make waves in the U19 World Cup.

Scotland

Scotland’s U19 team boasts standout performers from the Europe Qualifier, with batter Jamie Dunk emerging as the top run-scorer with 244 runs at an impressive average of 85. Off-spinning all-rounder Alec Price, a contributor with both bat and ball, showcased his skills with a match-best of 82 against the Dutch and a notable 4/29 against Jersey.

However, the story of the tournament could be the rise of 18-year-old batter Bahadar Esakhiel, who arrived in Scotland from Afghanistan in 2016. Despite taking up cricket seriously only in 2018, Esakhiel has become a centurion at U17 level and amassed over 400 runs in the Western Premiership in 2023. With promising talents like Uzair Ahmad and Qasim Khan in their ranks, Scotland presents a resilient and potentially formidable team.

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