Michael Hill to lead Australia's Under-19 squad

Michael Hill, the Victorian batsman, will lead Australia's 15-member squad for the 2008 Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia. Australia's youth selection panel recognised Victoria's triumph in the recent Under-19 championships in Hobart by including five players from the state in the squad.

Hill was given a rookie contract earlier this year, though he's yet to make his senior debut for Victoria. His deputy, Phillip Hughes, burst onto the state scene with half-centuries on his Pura Cup and FR Ceup debuts for New South Wales this summer. Both are graduates from the latest batch of the Australian academy. The youngest in the squad is Josh Hazelwood, the 16-year-old batsman from New South Wales.

"Choosing this squad was extremely difficult," Geoff Tamblyn, the chairman of selectors said. "We have been lucky enough to see a lot of talented players representing their states in the Under-19 championships here in Hobart over the last two weeks."

Tamblyn also praised Hughes and Hill, who scored 90 in the championship final against ACT. A few players toured Malaysia in September and Tamblyn hoped the experience had prepared them for the World Cup.

"Phillip Hughes has played first class cricket this season, and along with Michael Hill, is a graduate of the 2007 Centre of Excellence intake," Tamblyn said. "That experience will hold them in good stead for the challenge that lays ahead in Malaysia."

Australia are grouped with Sri Lanka, Namibia and Nepal in Group C of the tournament. The Under-19 World Cup which runs from February 17 to March 2 next year.

Squad Michael Hill (capt) (Vic), Phillip Hughes (vice-capt) (NSW), Daniel Burns (NSW), Michael Cranmer (SA), James Faulkner (Tas), Josh Hazlewood (NSW), David King (Vic), Dominic O'Brien (Qld), Kirk Pascoe (SA), James Pattinson (Vic), Clive Rose (Vic), Kumar Sarna (Vic), Jeremy Smith (Tas), Steven Smith (NSW), Marcus Stoinis (WA).
Standby players: Cameron Francis (NT), Chris Quelch (WA).