England vs. Pakistan U-19 Cricket 2013: Hosts Must Produce Against Favourites

If the current crop of England youngsters harbour dreams of playing in the Ashes one day then they have to start impressing in the Under-19 Tri-series.

The hosts toiled in their opening clash with Pakistan, falling to a 46-run defeat, and the tourists must step up against the favourites in their match on Tuesday.

Pakistan are the perfect opposition to test how good this England squad are given their ability with both bat and ball. 

England have to find a way of quickly dismissing opener Sami Aslam, who is on the path to an international call-up following some fine knocks, and not allow any of the opposition batsmen time to find their rhythm.

But Pakistan also boast a frightening bowling attack, with 16-year-old Mohammad Aftab heading the charge. Aftab took eight wickets from his first three matches, and England must find a way to unsettle the medium-fast left-hander.

The hosts showed commendable resilience against Pakistan last time out and can take positives from the defeat.

England could have been forgiven for crumbling after their bowling was battered by the tourists’ resilience. Indeed, they almost did, losing four early wickets before Harry Finch and Will Rhodes put on a magnificent 134-run fifth-wicket partnership, with the latter going on to making a century.

It is no coincidence that the Tri-series are being contested alongside the Ashes. It’s the chance for a youngster to get his name linked with a senior spot while cricket is high on the public agenda.

So far, England have struggled and sit bottom of the table even though some players have stood out.

Rhodes has probably been the standout man after taking two wickets against Bangladesh before posting a century, while captain Ben Duckett—unused in the opening match against Pakistan—made a tidy 50 against Bangladesh in their second match.

But it’s no good being the star in a defeat. The selectors want to hear about players who carried their side to victory with a fast half-century or dismissed the tail end as their opponents closed in on their target, not how these individual efforts were in vain.

If England can beat Pakistan then they will drag themselves back into the tournament and edge closer to a spot in the Trent Bridge final—a final you can be sure the selectors will be watching.