Secondary school players at this week’s Gillette Cup competition have an extra incentive to perform well – they’re being watched by one the national U19 selectors.
With the national U19 tournament starting next week and the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in January there are exciting opportunities for the young talent coming through the Gillette Cup secondary schools tournament.
Nine players at the tournament are already part of the preliminary U19 World Cup Squad, including Tom Latham from Christchurch Boys High School and Adam Milne from Palmerston North Boys High School.
Selector Kaushik Patel arrived at the Gillette Cup this afternoon to keep an eye on some of the players already in the wider squad and spot up and coming young talent.
“The U19 World Cup is a one-day tournament so we are looking at players with all- round one-day abilities,” Patel said. “There are some players who are very talented but will miss out because they suit the longer form of the game.”
Thirty players were named in the New Zealand U19 preliminary squad, which will be cut to the final 15 next Sunday. Even though the wider squad has already been selected, there is still a chance for those at the Gillette Cup to impress the selectors.
“There are still places in the wider squad for those bolters who do well here, so we will be keeping our eyes out for players who are excelling at the tournament here in Palmerston North.”
The Under 19 tournament starts on Tuesday in Auckland with all six major associations being represented. A number of the participants at Gillette Cup will be appearing for their association.
