ICC MEDIA RELEASE
Kuala Lumpur , 14 February 2008
Graeme Smith, Sanath Jayasuriya and Alistair Cook look back on the U/19 CWC as a springboard for their careers as professional cricketers
The ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup is a vital part of players’ development as they learn about the rigours and challenges of international cricket, according to some of the world’s top players.
Speaking to ICC host broadcaster ESPN-STAR Sport ahead of this year’s event, which begins in Malaysia on 17 February, South Africa captain Graeme Smith said he was grateful for the opportunity to have played in an international event so early in his career.
“Representing your country is always a special honour and I still vividly remember my experiences of playing at the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka back in 2000,” said the Proteas skipper.
“It taught me the importance of dealing with the challenges that international cricket, particularly in a tournament environment, will throw at you. The challenge of taking on different teams in different conditions was an invaluable cricketing lesson.
“I believe the experiences gained of preparing for an international tournament was an important stepping stone for me on my cricket career, especially as it was the first time I had played in a global event against the world’s strongest teams,” said Smith.
Smith’s sentiments were echoed by vastly experienced Sri Lanka all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya, who played in the first U/19 CWC in 1988.
“Brian Lara captained the West Indies, Michael Atherton captained England , Inzamam-ul-Haq was the captain of Pakistan … From that tournament I realized one has to work hard to be selected in the Sri Lanka team and to stay in the team. I saw a lot of players come in and then go again and I did not want to do that. I wanted to keep performing and working hard,” said Jayasuriya.
“This is a great tournament. This is how you get exposure to play at international level. I got the exposure and I came up with a good performance. It helps you to establish yourself as an international player in your own country,” he said.
England opening batsman Alistair Cook got his international career off to a great start at the 2004 U/19 CWC in Bangladesh . In seven innings, the left-hander scored 383 runs at an average of 76.60 including a top score of 108 not out. Needless to say, his memories of that time are positive.
“What I remember most is the experience of staying together as a group of young lads trying to win a tournament, trying to progress through and trying to do our best. It was a tough tour playing under the conditions that we had. I have fond memories and it helped my cricket a long way,” said Cook.
Having been in their shoes, Smith has plenty of advice for this year’s crop of talent from around the globe.
“Use it to learn. Whether it’s attending your first-ever press conference, giving your first post-match television interview, signing bats, attending education sessions delivered by the ICC, or watching how other teams prepare for matches, all these elements are things that you will do time and time again as a senior player, so the sooner you learn how to conduct yourself properly the easier it will be when you are playing international cricket,” he said.
“There will be a global audience watching on television and it is a great opportunity to put your name on the lips of the international cricket community, in the same way the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif did when they helped India win the competition back in 2000.
“Winning is also a habit and every time players step onto the field of play they should be expecting victory. Even as a player for an Associate team, as we have seen so many times at this competition from the likes of Nepal , you always have to have a self-belief that you can win.
“And although winning is important, players should of course enjoy the experience. While some may be lucky enough to go onto a career in international cricket, even the most talented of players can be effected by injury, and for many this event will be the pinnacle of their cricketing careers, so they should relish the chance to prove their ability on this stage.
“I look forward to following the tournament, in particular watching how the South African boys get on, and like the rest of the cricket public trying to spot the stars of the future that I may be having to play against in the near future in international cricket.
“After all, I wonder how many people who watched me play in 2000 would have thought that within three years I would be captaining my country at Test level. I certainly didn’t and I hope my story is an inspirational one for all those taking part,” said Smith.
Along with the 10 Full Members and the host Malaysia , Nepal (Asia), Ireland (Europe), Bermuda ( Americas ), Namibia (Africa) and Papua New Guinea (East Asia-Pacific) qualified from their regions to get to this stage.
The 16 teams have been divided into four groups with the top two teams progressing to the Super League quarter-finals while the two bottom teams from each group qualify for the Plate Championship quarter-finals.
A total of 44 matches, including 24 in the first round, seven in the Super League and 13 in play-offs will be played at seven venues across the three cities of Kuala Lumpur , Penang and Johor.
Defending champion Pakistan will get its ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup campaign underway by playing the host Malaysia on 17 February at Johor Cricket Academy .
Pakistan is the only team to have won back-to-back titles at this level, having triumphed in 2004 and 2006 in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka , respectively, and will now aim to make it a hat-trick as it goes into the event as top seed.
The winner from 2000, India , is seeded second, with Australia (winners in the inaugural event back in 1988 and 2002) seeded third and England (winners in 1999) fourth.
The ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup is a vital part of players’ development as they learn about the rigours and challenges of international cricket, according to some of the world’s top players.
Speaking to ICC host broadcaster ESPN-STAR Sport ahead of this year’s event, which begins in Malaysia on 17 February, South Africa captain Graeme Smith said he was grateful for the opportunity to have played in an international event so early in his career.
“Representing your country is always a special honour and I still vividly remember my experiences of playing at the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka back in 2000,” said the Proteas skipper.
“It taught me the importance of dealing with the challenges that international cricket, particularly in a tournament environment, will throw at you. The challenge of taking on different teams in different conditions was an invaluable cricketing lesson.
“I believe the experiences gained of preparing for an international tournament was an important stepping stone for me on my cricket career, especially as it was the first time I had played in a global event against the world’s strongest teams,” said Smith.
Smith’s sentiments were echoed by vastly experienced Sri Lanka all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya, who played in the first U/19 CWC in 1988.
“Brian Lara captained the West Indies, Michael Atherton captained England , Inzamam-ul-Haq was the captain of Pakistan … From that tournament I realized one has to work hard to be selected in the Sri Lanka team and to stay in the team. I saw a lot of players come in and then go again and I did not want to do that. I wanted to keep performing and working hard,” said Jayasuriya.
“This is a great tournament. This is how you get exposure to play at international level. I got the exposure and I came up with a good performance. It helps you to establish yourself as an international player in your own country,” he said.
England opening batsman Alistair Cook got his international career off to a great start at the 2004 U/19 CWC in Bangladesh . In seven innings, the left-hander scored 383 runs at an average of 76.60 including a top score of 108 not out. Needless to say, his memories of that time are positive.
“What I remember most is the experience of staying together as a group of young lads trying to win a tournament, trying to progress through and trying to do our best. It was a tough tour playing under the conditions that we had. I have fond memories and it helped my cricket a long way,” said Cook.
Having been in their shoes, Smith has plenty of advice for this year’s crop of talent from around the globe.
“Use it to learn. Whether it’s attending your first-ever press conference, giving your first post-match television interview, signing bats, attending education sessions delivered by the ICC, or watching how other teams prepare for matches, all these elements are things that you will do time and time again as a senior player, so the sooner you learn how to conduct yourself properly the easier it will be when you are playing international cricket,” he said.
“There will be a global audience watching on television and it is a great opportunity to put your name on the lips of the international cricket community, in the same way the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif did when they helped India win the competition back in 2000.
“Winning is also a habit and every time players step onto the field of play they should be expecting victory. Even as a player for an Associate team, as we have seen so many times at this competition from the likes of Nepal , you always have to have a self-belief that you can win.
“And although winning is important, players should of course enjoy the experience. While some may be lucky enough to go onto a career in international cricket, even the most talented of players can be effected by injury, and for many this event will be the pinnacle of their cricketing careers, so they should relish the chance to prove their ability on this stage.
“I look forward to following the tournament, in particular watching how the South African boys get on, and like the rest of the cricket public trying to spot the stars of the future that I may be having to play against in the near future in international cricket.
“After all, I wonder how many people who watched me play in 2000 would have thought that within three years I would be captaining my country at Test level. I certainly didn’t and I hope my story is an inspirational one for all those taking part,” said Smith.
Along with the 10 Full Members and the host Malaysia , Nepal (Asia), Ireland (Europe), Bermuda ( Americas ), Namibia (Africa) and Papua New Guinea (East Asia-Pacific) qualified from their regions to get to this stage.
The 16 teams have been divided into four groups with the top two teams progressing to the Super League quarter-finals while the two bottom teams from each group qualify for the Plate Championship quarter-finals.
A total of 44 matches, including 24 in the first round, seven in the Super League and 13 in play-offs will be played at seven venues across the three cities of Kuala Lumpur , Penang and Johor.
Defending champion Pakistan will get its ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup campaign underway by playing the host Malaysia on 17 February at Johor Cricket Academy .
Pakistan is the only team to have won back-to-back titles at this level, having triumphed in 2004 and 2006 in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka , respectively, and will now aim to make it a hat-trick as it goes into the event as top seed.
The winner from 2000, India , is seeded second, with Australia (winners in the inaugural event back in 1988 and 2002) seeded third and England (winners in 1999) fourth.