Otago pair named in NZ side for U-19 World Cup

Ben Lockrose
Ben Lockrose
Two of the three most promising players in Otago have been named in the New Zealand team for the Under-19 World Cup.

Otago Boys' High School First XI wicketkeeper-batsman Max Chu and team-mate left-arm spinner Ben Lockrose have been selected in the side.

It is great news for the duo. The pair opted to play for their school in the First XI Cup rather than for their province at the national under-19 tournament recently after being assured it would not affect their selection prospects.

Otago Boys' may have provided a third player had Hunter Kindley not sustained an untimely injury.

Max Chu
Max Chu
He was a strong contender for the squad but injured his shoulder while training with the Otago Volts last month and was ruled out.

New Zealand under-19 coach Paul Wiseman believes he has a squad brimming with talent and experience.

Finn Allen, Dale Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Felix Murray are having a second attempt at lifting the prize.

They were part of the New Zealand under-19 squad for the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2016.

Allen was New Zealand's leading scorer at the tournament with 210 runs an average of 42 and shapes as a key player.

All-rounder Kaylum Boshier will captain the side. He impressed the selectors with the way he led his Central Districts side during the national under-19 tournament which wrapped up in Lincoln earlier this week.

''We're confident with the side we have selected for the tournament,'' Wiseman said.

''It will be a great experience for the players involved, but for those not selected there will be other opportunities going forward.''

''Selection or non-selection will not define these youngsters' cricketing careers.''

The team has a training camp in Tauranga beginning on December 17 2017.

It will play Zimbabwe and Pakistan in non-official warm-up matches before completing its preparations with official warm-up games against Zimbabwe on January 8 and Papua New Guinea on January 10.

The tournament is being staged in New Zealand from January 13 to February 3. New Zealand is in a challenging group with reigning champion West Indies, South Africa and Kenya.

Add a Comment

OUTSTREAM