All you need to know for the U19 Women’s World Cup

What is it and when does it start?

The first ever ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup will begin in South Africa on January 14, with 41 matches to be played before the final is held on January 29.

While there has been fourteen editions of the men’s Under-19 World Cup since 1988, this is the first time the world’s best young female players will get their chance to shine on the global stage.

Unlike the men’s tournament, which is a 50-over event, the women’s will take place within the 20-over format.

Matches will be spread across four venues in Potchefstroom and Benoni.

The event was originally pencilled in to be played in Bangladesh in January 2021, but was pushed back to December 2021 due to the pandemic. A second delay then saw it moved again, this time to January 2023 with South Africa installed as hosts.

Who is competing and how does it work?

A total of 16 teams will be part of the tournament, including the usual suspects as well as some rising nations not usually sighted at the smaller senior women’s World Cups.

Eleven full member nations automatically qualified – Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

They were joined by one team from each of the ICC’s five regions – the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates, Rwanda, Scotland and Indonesia.

The teams are split into four groups, with Australia placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the USA.

The top three teams from each group progress to the Super Six round, which runs from January 21-25. The 12 remaining sides will be split into two groups of six, where each team will play a further two matches. 

The top two sides from each group will progress to the semi-finals on January 27.

Group A: Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and USA

Group B: England, Pakistan, Rwanda and Zimbabwe

Group C: Indonesia, Ireland, New Zealand and West Indies

Group D: India, Scotland, South Africa and the UAE

What’s Australia’s schedule and how can I watch?

January 14: v Bangladesh, Willowmoore Park, Benoni, 10am local (7pm AEDT)

January 16: v USA, Willowmoore Park B, Benoni, 1.45pm local (10.45pm AEDT)

January 18: v Sri Lanka, Willowmoore Park, Benoni, 10am local (7pm AEDT)

*If Australia qualify:

Super Sixes: January 21-25, Potchefstroom 

Semi-finals: January 27, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 10am & 1.45pm local (7pm & 10.45pm AEDT)

Final: January 29, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 1.45pm local (10.45pm AEDT)

For fans in Australia, the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup will be broadcast live and free on ICC.tv, with the semi-finals and final to be broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.

View the full schedule HERE.

Who should I look out for in the Aussie squad?

Eight members of the Aussie squad have experience playing either in the WBBL or for their states in the one-day domestic tournament.

They include allrounder Ella Hayward, who has become a regular with her off-spin for the Renegades and Victoria since making her elite debut in 2020, and Tasmania and Hurricanes leg-spinner Amy Smith, whose skills with the bat will also see her take on allrounder status in this side.

Pace bowler Rhys McKenna is contracted to Victoria and the Stars, while batter Claire Moore and leg-spinner Jade Allen both hold NSW contracts.

Queensland-contracted left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton debuted for Brisbane Heat in WBBL|08, while spin-bowling allrounder Charis Bekker (WA and Scorchers) and pace bowler Ella Wilson (SA and Strikers) have senior top-level experience.

Wicketkeeper Paris Bowdler's addition to the U19s squad follows her surprise WBBL debut for the Renegades. The Geelong product was a late call-up for their clash against the Sixers in Ballarat following an injury to Josie Dooley.

Players aged 18 or younger on August 31, 2022, were eligible for selection at the tournament, ruling out 19-year-old current Aussie senior squad members Darcie Brown and Phoebe Litchfield, as well as WBBL regulars Georgia Voll, Tess Flintoff and Charli Knott.

Australia will be coached by former Aussie spinner Erin Osborne, who will be assisted by Dulip Samaraweera. Sarah Aley had initially been appointed head coach but pulled out for personal reasons, with Osborne promoted in her place.

Australia squad: Chloe Ainsworth, Jade Allen, Charis Bekker, Paris Bowdler, Maggie Clark, Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Ella Hayward, Milly Illingworth, Eleanor Larosa, Rhys McKenna, Claire Moore, Kate Pelle, Amy Smith, Ella Wilson. Reserves: Paris Hall, Samira Dimeglio, Sara Kennedy, Olivia Henry, Ananaya Sharma.

Who are the biggest overseas names playing?

India will be captained by none other than Shafali Verma, the powerful opening batter who has been playing for their senior team since 2019. She is joined by Richa Ghosh, an equally powerful middle-order batter and wicketkeeper. Both will also feature in India’s senior T20 World Cup squad, with that tournament to also be held in South Africa, in February.

New Zealand have named three members of their Commonwealth Games squad in their Under-19 group; Fran Jonas, Izzy Gaze and Georgia Plimmer.

England took a different tact, opting not to include Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp, who both made senior international debuts in 2022, in their squad. However, like Australia, they’ve chosen a host of players with domestic and The Hundred contracts.