Aus-SL U19 series: All you need to know

The details

Australia Under 19s and Sri Lanka Under 19s will play a six-match series in Hobart, featuring one three-day game and five one-day matches. The three-day match kicks off on Saturday at 9.30am local time at Kingston Twin Ovals, followed by the 50-over matches on April 13, 15, 18. 21 and 23 - which also begin at 9.30am AEST.

The squads

Australia: Jason Sangha, Will Sutherland, Param Uppal (co-captains), Max Bryant, Iain Carlisle, Jack Edwards, Zak Evans, Ryan Hackney, Ryan Hadley, Lewin Maladay (wk), Jonathan Merlo, Mitch Perry, Lloyd Pope, Matthew Spoors, Austin Waugh. Coach: Matthew Elliott. Assistant Coaches: Troy Cooley/Ryan Harris

Sri Lanka: Kamindu Mendis (captain), Hasitha Boyagoda (vice-captain), Ashen Bandara, Vishva Chathuranga (wk), Lasith Croospulle, Nipun Sumanasinghe, Ayana Siriwardene, Krishan Sanjula, Jehan Daniel, Nipun Malinga, Rashmika Dilshan, Nipun Ransika, Thilan Prashan, Praveen Jayawickrama, Hareen Buddhila Weerasinghe. Coach: Roy Dias. Assistant Coach: Chaminda Vaas

The skippers

Australia will have three players share the captaincy - Victorian allrounder Will Sutherland and NSW duo Jason Sangha and Param Uppal. Sutherland will lead in the three-day match, but all three will have important roles to play if the hosts are to enjoy success throughout the series. Stroke-makers Sangha and Uppal featured at the top of the order during the under-19 championships, with Sutherland an important cog in the middle order and seam-up option.

Sri Lanka skipper Kamindu Mendis featured at the most recent Under 19s World Cup and can do it all - literally. Not only will he bat in the top order for the visitors, but as a Tasmanian XI found out in a warm-up match against the Sri Lankans last week, he bowls orthodox spin both left and right handed.

Look out for… 

For Australia, Jason Sangha looms as one of the big names in a strong batting line-up, given his experience this summer with the Cricket Australia XI in the Matador BBQs Cup and against Pakistan, plus the Prime Minister’s XI against Sri Lanka. With the ball, towering New South Wales quick Ryan Hadley and Victorian speedster Zak Evans have plenty of pace to burn.

For Sri Lanka, all eyes will be on the skipper, Kamindu Mendis, both with bat and ball, plus vice-captain Haditha Boyagoda. Both batsmen scored tons against the Tasmanian XI, with the left-handed Mendis and right-handed Boyagoda taking a liking to conditions in Tasmania.

The danger men

South Australian leg-spinner Lloyd Pope has caused havoc for the best underage players in Australia, as the leading wicket-taker at both the under-17 and under-19 national championships. Now he gets his chance against Sri Lanka, a nation that has a history of producing strong players of spin.

Paceman Nipun Ransika was a star for Sri Lanka Under 19s in their series against South Africa and Zimbabwe, with the right-armer picking up two bags of four in his final two matches for the series. If the new-ball operator continues his rich vein of form, Australia’s top order will need to be on their toes.

How to follow 

The entire series will be live-streamed for on cricket.com.au and via the CA Live app, while video highlights and reports will also be available on the site.

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