News
Tom Jones will take a notably seasoned New Zealand squad to the 2026 Men’s Under-19 World Cup, shared this time between Zimbabwe and Namibia. Five of the 15 teenagers have already played senior domestic cricket, and three – Jones, fellow batter Snehith Reddy and quick Mason Clarke – know what an Under-19 World Cup feels like after turning out in South Africa two summers ago.
Last month Jones announced himself in first-class cricket – the four-day format – with a debut century for Otago against Wellington. Reddy and Clarke have tasted List-A cricket (the 50-over domestic game) this year, Reddy hammering an unbeaten 147 against Nepal at the previous World Cup, Clarke bagging 4 for 62 versus eventual runners-up India. “It’s nice going back with a few miles on the clock,” Jones said in a media call. “The pitches over there can be slow early on, so time in the middle is gold.”
Middle-order men Hugo Bogue, Brandon Matzopoulous, Marco Alpe and Jacob Cotter forced their way in after filling their boots at the national Under-19 week in Lincoln. All-rounders Harry Burns and Flynn Morey add seam-bowling depth; both collected five-fors at that same tournament. “We’ve tried to reward performances rather than reputations,” head coach Anton Devcich explained. “Hard runs and tough overs always say more than highlight reels.”
Key facts first
• Squad departs 2 January, trains in Bulawayo.
• Warm-ups start 9 January.
• Group B fixtures: v USA 18 Jan, then India and Bangladesh.
• Eligibility: born after 31 August 2006.
Devcich, capped 14 times by the Black Caps, is backed by High-Performance coaches Paul Wiseman and Graeme Aldridge. “Anton brings calm and clarity,” NZC talent boss Paul Wiseman noted. “That matters when teenagers suddenly find themselves on television in Bulawayo.”
A brief look ahead
New Zealand have reached one final (in 1998) but never lifted this trophy. Experience may tilt things. The top order owns first-class hundreds, the seamers have bowled at men twice their age, and the coaching group have been around international dressing rooms. Still, Under-19 cricket can swing wildly – one ruthless over, one reckless swipe – and Group B is no gentle start. India remain the benchmark, Bangladesh’s age-group system keeps churning out wrist-spinners, while USA are the unknown.
“None of us is booking flights for the semi-finals yet,” Jones added, breaking into a grin. “But if we scrap for each other, who knows?”
New Zealand squad
Tom Jones (capt), Marco Alpe, Hugo Bogue, Harry Burns, Mason Clarke, Jacob Cotter, Aryan Mann (wk), Brandon Matzopoulous, Flynn Morey, Snehith Reddy, Callum Samson, Jaskaran Sandhu, Selwin Sanjay, Hunter Shore, Harry Waite
