A stepping stone to success

Harbhajan Singh

When I was young, I had always dreamt of representing my country. When I used to practice in Jalandhar's Burlton Park and then later at an academy in Chandigarh, there were a couple of guys who used to play Under-17 and Under-19 cricket for India. So I was naturally thrilled when I heard my name was in the reckoning for the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup in 1998. It was a very proud moment for me and my family when I got selected to represent India in the tournament.

It was my first tour abroad anyway so I enjoyed each and every moment and I had that special feeling, wearing the India blazer on that flight to South Africa. I was proud. We began the tour by taking part in the opening ceremony parade for all the participating teams. I remember those moments; they were very special, representing India for the first time. Apart from that I remember each and every game. It was very special for me to be there and perform well because the Under-19 World Cup offers players an international platform to play for their country.

My memories of the opposition during the U/19 World Cup - Owais Shah from England was there. Of course Abdul Razzaq was there were my teammates, Mohammad Kaif and Reetinder Singh Sodhi.

I remember I had a very good tournament. As a team, we didn't do that well, but on a personal note I bowled a couple of good spells in that tournament. I learnt how to bowl in different condistions and under different situations.As I said it's a very good platform for any youngster to play for their country and I knew if I did well I had a chance to be in reckoning, if not for India, then for my state (Punjab) team, maybe for North Zone.

I remember after coming back from South Africa, I got selected to play one of the warm up matches against Australia during their tour of India in 1998. I didn't do that well in that game, I got just the one wicket but I was happy that the tournament (U-19 World Cup) had pushed me into limelight. I not only got a chance to play against Australia, I also became a regular member of the Punjab senior cricket team, sharing the dressing room with the likes of Navjot Singh Sidhu and other idols. It was great fun to be representing my state team when I was just 17. Two months after the Under-19 World Cup, I made my Test debut for India. My dreams had come true.

Dwayne Bravo

In 2002, we played in New Zealand and being away from Caribbean for the first time, we experienced the different atmosphere, climate and weather conditions. It was something different for me and my team mates. Our first impression was that we are not going to survive here and lets go back home. But our coach explained to us this is what it is like playing away from home and this is what you will expect at the highest level. So we prepared ourselves and prepared our mind to play in conditions like this away from home.

The Under 19 World Cup helps you set goals. You want to play for your country - Under 15, Under 19 and eventually get to the senior team. Some from the Under 19 team go straight to the senior team. The U/19 World Cup is where players are ear-marked for their countries. Once they do well at the U/19 World Cup, they become a household name throughout the world. It is a good opportunity for young players to build a cricketing career.

Chris Gayle

I think that the U/19s played a big part in my career. At first I wasn't selected to represent the West Indies in the U/19 World Cup in South Africa, but then I got a call saying that some of the guys are over age and there might be a chance for me to come over. I was really happy once I got over there. I scored a lot of runs in the preliminary rounds as well and it was a good opportunity for me. I really enjoyed it.

I think that it is a good experience for young players because you are televised around the world. Players also they get pushed into Test cricket at a young age as well and gain more experience. I think it is a good reason to have these kinds of events and hopefully it will continue.

Yuvraj Singh

I was part of the India team during the ICC U/19 CWC in Sri Lanka in 2000. It was my first experience of playing in front of big crowds, coverage on television with many experts analyzing and talking about your game. It gave me the exposure to international cricket events and performance at that level certainly gave me the confidence to go to the next level. The tournament also provided participants an experience of 'team building' - we stayed together, played together - we weren't individuals, we were Team India, representing our country at international level.

I remember playing against some very good teams like New Zealand and Australia, doing well under pressure and helping my team win the tournament. It was a great moment for the team and all my teammates - India had won the U/19 CWC for the first time. We had now become part of history.

Sanath Jayasuriya

Some of the most famous names in world cricket recall their experiences of playing in the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup.

It was my first U/19 tour for Sri Lanka. Coming from Matara, I found it difficult to travel to Colombo. And to get selected to go to Australia with the U/19 team was a dream come true. Practicing with players with whom I never played before was a big experience. So getting picked to go to Australia to play the U/19 World Cup and scoring runs there was a nice experience

When we were playing school cricket in Matara, we never got an opportunity to play with schools in Colombo. We always played with other outstation schools. So when I got selected to go to Colombo and practice with the kids who were picked alongside me was a new thing for me.

Brian Lara captained West Indies. Atherton captained England. Inzamam was the captain of Pakistan. Most of the players have played for their respective teams. We reached the quarter-final stage. We played well and I scored runs. And the good thing was most of the cricketers whom we played in the World Cup played for their individual countries and we met each other often.

I realized one has to work hard to be selected in the Sri Lankan team and stay in the team. I had seen lot of players had come in and gone and I did not want to do that. I wanted to keep performing and work hard

There should be more U/19 tournament like these. This is how you get exposure to play at international level. I got the exposure and I came up with a good performance. It eventually helps you to establish yourself as an international player in your own country.

Upul Tharanga

I played actually in two U/19 World Cups - 2002 and 2004. It was a very good opportunity for all those young players playing at the U/19 level. I played at U/19 level and that why I played international level earlier. I performed well in the U/19 World Cup and it was very good tournaments for me.

At U/19 level, you play against different countries, with different players. The difference between school and U/19 level is here you learn how the international players are doing. You also gain experience in different wickets in different countries.

We played a lot of guys from India who later went on to play for Indian senior team like Irfan Pathan and Parthiv Patel. We played against South Africa, Australia, England. Every team had a very good side. At least one or two players from each side went on to play for their country at the highest level.

When you play in schools, you are just playing cricket. At U/19 World Cup, you learn about different wickets, different conditions, how to build an innings.

For young players looking to play international cricket, U/19 level is the best time to learn. One can learn how to be mentally strong. You cannot learn these things when you are 27 or 28 years old.

Alistair Cook

The U/19 World Cup was my first proper tour. It was a real hard work as when you go to Bangladesh, you do not stay in the greatest hotels. But what I remember most is the experience of staying together as a group of young lads trying to win a tournament, trying to progress through and trying to do the best you can. It was a tough tour playing under the conditions that we had. I have fond memories and it helped my cricket a long way.

It was my first time in the sub-continent. So when I came back to India and Sri Lanka in a couple of years time, you have half an idea of what it is going to be like. And the U/19 World Cup also gives you an opportunity to compare yourself against the best around the world. It was a great eye opener.

I remember the West Indies team because they beat us. It had Ravi Rampaul, Denesh Ramdin.

The most important lesson I learnt was to stay together as a side of 15 players when things did not go right. If you did not have a good day you have to stay positive because it affects the entire community of 15 players.

To play against the best of the world against cricketers of your age and trying to win a tournament is a big occasion.

Ian Bell

I think the U/19 World Cup gave me an opportunity to play against guys all around the world with different style of game. As a 19 year old when you come to the subcontinent it is very good for your development and I was very lucky to benefit from the opportunity

In the U/19 World Cup I played against Yuvraj Singh and Michael Clarke. I keep bumping into them still in the circuit.

I wish I scored more runs in that World Cup. It was not the best of the World Cup for me and England. But certainly the experience of playing against different countries and different style of cricket was helpful.

Albie Morkel

Our World Cup was held in Sri Lanka in 2000. My best memory was that it was my first big tour away from home. And also to play in conditions in the sub continent. It was very foreign. We were excited to go overseas and to play in the World Cup. Experinces in Sri Lanka can be very different -different smells, different foodt, different kind of conditions, different kind of wickets. These are the things that have stuck with me. Ever since, I have come to Sri Lanka thrice and I have always enjoyed in Sri Lanka.

At the under 19 level, you play against the best of the players of your age around the world and measure yourself against them. In South Africa when you play in your area you are not always playing against the top quality opposition. So when you go to the World Cup, that's when you can see how good you are. And if you do well there, it just helps you do well in your career.

South Africa were quite unfortunate and were knocked out without playing a game. The opposition we played against were USA and Ireland and smaller teams like that. There were other teams like Australia, West Indies and many of the players have gone on to play Test cricket for their teams like Shane Watson for Australia, Dwayne Bravo of West Indies and a couple of guys from New Zealand.

It was the first time we experienced a disapoointment under a team environment. We were knocked out without playing a game. We had a strong team with the likes of Grame Smith, Andrew Puttick, Johann Myburgh, Jacques Rudolph, Jonathan Trott and we were one of the favourites to win the tournament. So when were knocked out it was the biggest disappointment of my life. So sitting in the dressing room watching Nepal beat Kenya to go through was a low point of my life. Definitely when you play outside your home in a big tournament in a country like India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka where the conditions are different, it's an awesome experience for young players.