The New Generation

The ICC 50 overs world cup held every 4 years is considered as the pinnacle of cricketing achievement for the four years. It is highly coveted and sought out by all the countries, many even preparing for it 2 to 3 years in advance. Many new players dream of being the ones who seized the day by scoring the final runs or taking the last wicket and training their hearts out in order to get into the team. An important step in their journey is the U 19 teams and world cups, where all the young talent and hopefuls try to leave a mark. Many promising and accomplished players have joined their national teams by leaving a mark on the U19 teams.

Arguably the most important stage of the U19 teams’ battle has just finished its show, the stage in question being the U19 50 Overs World Cup. An apt representation for the prestigious world cup. Held every 2 years, this tournament normally gathers a large number of eyeballs, both due to the quality of cricket available, but also because deep inside they know, a person who will make a mark on the history of cricket is playing.

This year the games were played in the archipelago of West Indies. Through the numerous great games and great individual performances, the finalists of this year were England and India, both perennial favourites. This game exemplified the strengths and tenacity of the up and coming players to a fair degree. The game started with England choosing to bat, but the Indian bowlers kept a tight leash and bowled a tight line, almost humbling the Brits to 61/6. It was the single, Herculean effort of James Rew to man the sinking ship, with a pivotal 95 to get England to a defendable target of 189. But the Indian batsmen had other thoughts on the matter. While taking their time, each batsman had a role to fulfill, which almost all of them did to a T . They made England sweat and bleed for every wicket. In the battle of attrition, England’s score fell short as India chased it down with 14 balls to spare. It was a clean game, showing that the younger generation was more focused on honing their basics than flashy shots or unorthodox styles.

While the game might have looked simple and boring, I am sure to every fan and player the game was intense and fought tooth and nail for. Just like how a good game of cricket must be !

This augurs well for the future of cricket, as many youngsters stood up to represent their country and perform above and beyond what their team required. We might be going into a golden era of cricket after all….

Have a great week ahead !