Sangha's men eye rare Australian U-19 air

Jason Sangha's under-19s Australian team are aiming to join Josh Hazlewood, George Bailey and the Marsh brothers in tasting World Cup success.

Australian under-19 captain Jason Sangha is eying off an illustrious group including Cameron White and Mitchell Marsh as World-Cup winning skippers ahead of Saturday's final against India.

Sangha, having hit a century against England in a tour match earlier this summer, will lead Australia for the decider against a dominant India in the New Zealand town of Mount Maunganui.

If Australia are successful, Sangha will join White (2002), Marsh (2010) and Victorian Geoff Parker (1988) as they only captains to lead the side to a title in the youth World Cup.

Globally, future Test stars Virat Kohli (India 2008), Sarfraz Ahmed (Pakistan 2006), Mohammad Kaif (India 2000) and Owais Shah (England 1998) have also lifted the trophy.

"To lead my country out tomorrow is going to be an amazing feeling," Sangha said.

"I'm quite an aggressive captain in the way I set my fields and always looking to take wickets and put pressure back on the batsmen.

"I'm quite open as captain as well - I like taking ideas from other players.

"We've got a lot of smart cricketers in our team; it's not just me taking ownership. It's a lot of other guys taking ownership as well."

Sangha's star players have been far and wide.

Legspinner Lloyd Pope made a name for himself with 8-35 in a miracle quarter-final comeback win over England. Quicks Jason Ralston and Jonathan Merlo have imposed themselves with respective figures of 7-15 and 4-24 against Papua New Guinea and semi-finalists Afghanistan.

Jack Edwards - just 17 and the younger brother of Sydney Sixers player Mickey - has averaged 47 with the bat and 16.20 with the ball. Nathan McSweeney hit the tournament's fourth-highest score with his 156 against PNG.

All hope to join Marsh, Josh Hazlewood, Nic Maddinson, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson, who were a part of Australia's last under-19s triumph in 2010 in New Zealand.

First, though, they must beat an Indian side who have won each of their five matches by 10 wickets or at least 100 runs - including their tournament opener against Australia.

But with little pressure placed on them over the past three weeks, Sangha hopes his bowlers can expose their middle order on Saturday to reverse the result.

"They haven't been tested too much, especially in their middle order," Sangha said.

"They haven't really seen our side now compared to the first game. We're a different side; we're playing some really good cricket ...

"There is going to be a lot of pressure on them but we're just excited to play."

NOTABLE AUSTRALIANS TO WIN U-19 CRICKET WORLD CUP:

1988 - Stuart Law

2002 - Cameron White (capt), Shaun Marsh, George Bailey, Mark Cosgrove, Xavier Doherty

2010 - Mitchell Marsh (capt), Josh Hazlewood, Nic Maddinson, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson


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Source: AAP



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