Rising star’s big footy call; speed freak set to turn heads — Australia’s U19 World Cup guns

After breaking a 14-year World Cup drought in 2024, Australia’s Under 19 side returns to the international arena this Friday in pursuit of an elusive second straight trophy.

The Aussies have won the underage tournament four times since its inception in 1988, but are still yet to claim back-to-back titles in an ever-competitive field.

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Many of Australia’s greatest-ever cricketers have had the privilege of representing Australia as a junior, including cricketing great Michael Hussey, who played 79 Tests for the country after debuting at age 30.

“I think the Under 19s tournaments — whether it’s a World Cup, or just playing another country — is a fantastic opportunity,” Hussey told Fox Cricket’s The Follow On podcast.

“It’s so good for your education as a cricketer, but also as a life experience to experience conditions so foreign to what we’re used to in Australia.

“Plus, it’s hugely motivational. To think you’re in the Australian Under 19 team (and) representing your country, that’s a pretty special milestone … I think it’s a really important part of the pathway.”

Under the leadership of Geelong prodigy Ollie Peake this summer, Australia’s 15-man squad is well placed to reach the pointy end of the competition once more after his own success two years ago.

The emerging superstar is Australia’s sole remaining member of the champion team that triumphed in South Africa in January 2024.

Now 19, Peake has already starred at domestic level, notching six half-centuries across three formats from 23 matches. Crucially, however, it was prior to his professional debut that he first made his mark, producing a vital 46 not out at just over a run-a-ball in Australia’s World Cup final two years ago.

He looms as the side’s great hope in going back-to-back on the international stage, given he is the only player to play professionally in the squad.

That being said, the duo of Aryan Sharma and Will Malajczuk have gone very close to debuting in the white-ball format for the Melbourne Stars and Western Australia respectively.

Sharma was signed by the Big Bash franchise as a local replacement player pre-Christmas as a bowling all-rounder, specialising in left-arm orthodox spinner.

The 18-year-old has opened the batting for Carlton at premier cricket level this season, and bowled well in Australia’s final warm-up match against South Africa with figures of 1/33 from his seven overs.

As for Malajczuk, the top-order batter was named in Western Australia’s 14-man squad for a domestic one-dayer back in September last year.

The hard-hitter bases his game off Quinton de Kock at the top of the order, and showcased every bit of that comparison with a blitzing 85 off just 47 balls against South Africa on Wednesday night.

That knock included seven fours and eight sixes, and followed seven handy overs of off-spin beforehand at a solid economy.

Malajczuk had the privilege of training with Australia’s Test squad ahead of the Ashes opener in Perth late last year, just months after having to decide between Australian rules and cricket as his primary sport.

The dual-athlete was a part of Claremont’s development program throughout his junior years, and played for them up until June with six goals in four games to his name in 2025.

No state is better represented than New South Wales in this tournament, and good judges suggest that the side’s wicketkeeper Alex Lee-Young is the most talented of the Blues lot.

While his 57 in a World Cup warm-up match with Afghanistan came at a measured rate, the Randwick Petersham regularly scores his runs with flare, and isn’t afraid to be expansive with his batting early.

He has two 1st Grade tons to his name so far this season, and looks likely to slot in at No.5 under Peake this series.

Incredibly, Parramatta is the home of three Under 19 squad members, with all of John James, Naden Cooray and Nitesh Samuel selected. The latter, who has a range of strokes to complement a compact technique, sneaks into the squad after being born just two days after the cut-off date.

Cooray is a leg-spinner who performed well during NSW’s Under 19 state championship, taking 11 wickets at a strong economy from half a dozen matches in blue.

As for James, he caught the eyes of some in his Youth ODI debut against India in late September, hitting an unbeaten 77 at more than a run-a-ball batting at number eight.

A powerful all-rounder, James has floated between 1st and 2nd Grade this season for Parramatta but has a promising arsenal at his disposal with both bat and ball.

Out of St George CC, Will Taylor is a member of the squad’s fast bowling cartel, and is touted as a crafty seamer who presents the seam nicely out of the hand.

He’ll look to blow rival country’s out of the water alongside the only 17-year-old in the squad, Kasey Barton, a right-arm quick who had success against India in their Youth Test in Mackay last October to take six wickets for the match.

The quickest of the lot though is Queenslander Charlie Lachmund, who tore through Under 19 state sides late last year to take 13 wickets in the five matches he bowled in; inclusive of two four-wicket hauls.

In an interview with CA Media pre-tournament, Peake noted that he expected Lachmund to lead his attack in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Fellow statesman in Ben Gordon is among the group of genuine quicks on tour, and took 2/22 from his seven overs against the Proteas on Wednesday night in a promising show of form.

Gordon, who hails from the Sunshine Coast, has returned strongly from a foot injury that prevented him from taking part in last summer’s Under 19 state championship for Queensland.

The ‘Sunshine State’ is also home to two of Australia’s rising batting talents in Steve Hogan and Jayden Draper, with both scoring big last spring against India in the red and white-ball formats respectively.

Hogan patiently compiled 92 off 246 balls in their Youth Test at Shaw Park, while Draper smacked 107 off just 72 balls in a 50-over match the week prior.

A namesake in the squad with no relation to Steve, is Tom Hogan from the nation’s capital; who like several others in the squad, has been pinned as a star of the future.

The 18-year-old is yet to show his true potential at Youth International level just yet, but eagle-eyed opponents have spoken very highly to foxsports.com.au on his ceiling in Australian cricket.

Finally, as the sole South Australian in the squad, Hayden Schiller heads to Africa with big wraps on him from Premier Cricket rivals in Adelaide.

A handy bowling all-rounder who can do both, Schiller has been noted for his pace and bounce playing for Northern Districts’s 1st Grade side.

AUSTRALIA 15-MAN SQUAD

Oliver Peake (c) (Geelong District CC/VIC)

Kasey Barton (Mosman CC/NSW)

Naden Cooray (Parramatta CC/NSW)

Jayden Draper (Valley District CC/QLD)

Ben Gordon (Sunshine Coast Scorchers CC/QLD)

Steven Hogan (Sandgate-Redcliffe District CC/QLD)

Thomas Hogan (Ginninderra CC/ACT)

John James (Parramatta CC/NSW)

Charles Lachmund (Ipswich Hornets CC/QLD)

Will Malajczuk (Subiaco Floreat CC/WA)

Nitesh Samuel (Parramatta CC/NSW)

Hayden Schiller (Northern Jets District CC/SA)

Aryan Sharma (Carlton CC/VIC)

William Taylor (St George CC/NSW)

Alex Lee Young (Randwick Petersham CC/NSW)

AUSTRALIA’S GROUP A FIXTURE

Friday, January 16, 6:30pm AEDT: Australia v Ireland, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

Tuesday, January 20, 6:30pm AEDT: Australia v Japan, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

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