Jake Fraser-McGurk headlines Australia's U19 WC squad

[Ulquiorra]

 

Victoria's Jake Fraser-McGurk and Mackenzie Harvey have rookie and full contracts respectively with the Melbourne Renegades. © Getty

Recent Sheffield Shield debutant, Liam Scott, has been named in Australia's 15-man squad for the Under-19 Cricket World Cup, headlined by Victoria's Jake Fraser-McGurk, capping off a wonderful couple of months for the 17-year-old.

The third-youngest Sheffield Shield player in the state's history scored two fifties in the space of a week for the Victorian senior team. In addition, his 54 against New South Wales in the One-Day cup also made him the youngest-ever to hit a half-century in the tournament.

Cricket Australia's Youth Selection Panel (YSP), along with State Talent Managers, named a squad following the end of the Under-19 Male National Championships for the global tournament that runs from January 17 to February 9, 2020 in South Africa. The squad will be coached by Chris Rogers, and Ryan Harris will be his assistant.

"We're pleased to announce a strong 15-player squad for the upcoming 2020 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa," Cricket Australia National Talent & Pathway Manager, Graham Manou, said on Friday (December 13). "Our squad includes players of all disciplines with experience in domestic cricket environments, with some having already made promising starts to their careers at senior level.

"The Under-19 World Cup provides these players with an exceptional development opportunity and we look forward to seeing them represent their country with distinction. We're looking forward to departing for South Africa in January and demonstrating the strength of our underage talent pool against international opposition."

Seven of the 15 named have full or rookie state contracts, while three are currently contracted to clubs in the Big Bash League. Victoria's Jake Fraser-McGurk and Mackenzie Harvey have rookie and full contracts respectively with the Melbourne Renegades. The former also has featured in the Sheffield Shield and Marsh One-Day Cup for Victoria this season, while Harvey has played two List A and 13 BBL matches.

Patrick Rowe was named as the wicketkeeper-batsman after two centuries at the Under-19 Championships while four other rookie-contracted players, batsmen Oliver Davies, Sam Fanning and pacers Connor Sully and Matthew Willans join him. In addition, a trio of spinners in Tanveer Sangha, Todd Murphy and Cooper Connolly have been named.

Scott, who made a debut recently in the Sheffield Shield, has been named to strengthen the batting along with NSW Metro captain Lachlan Hearne, who scored 462 runs at 66 to finish the U19 Championships as the leading run-scorer.

Australia's World Cup campaign begins in Northern Cape city of Kimberley, where they will play the West Indies on January 18.

Squad: Cooper Connolly, Oliver Davies, Sam Fanning, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Lachlan Hearne, Corey Kelly, Liam Marshall, Todd Murphy, Patrick Rowe, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Bradley Simpson, Connor Sully, Matthew Willans