NZC Announce Fixtures And Squads For 2024-25 National Under-19 Tournament

In the past, the age limit for New Zealand’s national tournament was set at 21. The first edition took place in the 2003/04 season, with Central Districts emerging as the inaugural champions. The tournament continued to be held at the Under-21 level until the 16th edition in the 2018/19 season. Auckland dominated the competition, securing 8 individual titles, excluding the second edition from 2004/05.

The tournament was subsequently lowered to the Under-19 level following the ICC’s announcement of the Women’s Under-19 World Cup in 2019. Among the five editions held at this age group so far, Auckland and Central Districts each claimed two titles, while Wellington celebrated their second overall title and first at the Under-19 level in the 2022/23 season.

The next edition will be the sixth installment of the National Under-19 tournament. A total of 10 players with senior domestic contracts will represent their respective teams, including Elizabeth Buchanan, Kate Irwin, Rishika Jaswal, Anika Todd, and Sophie Court for Auckland, along with Northern Districts’ skipper Tash Wakelin and Eve Wolland, Central Districts’ captain Emma McLeod, and Wellington’s Kate Chandler and Hannah Francis.

“I have so many fun memories from Nationals. It was always a good opportunity to test yourself against others from around the country but also make friends from other regions,” stated 20-year-old batter Georgia Plimmer, who progressed through the ranks and recently participated in the White Ferns’ debut ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE in 2024, reflecting on her National Under-19 tournament experience.

This upcoming sixth edition will feature six teams: Auckland, Northern Districts, Central Districts, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago. The tournament is slated to take place from December 1 to December 7, 2024, at Lincoln University.

“It’s a great opportunity for the best players from across the country to come together and showcase their skills on the national stage. There’s a lot of promising talent coming through the ranks so I’m really looking forward to seeing them in action,” commented New Zealand Cricket High-Performance Coach, Sara McGlashan, emphasizing the tournament’s role in providing a platform for young talent.

Additionally, the tournament serves as an opportunity for players to position themselves for selection in the World Cup squad for the upcoming second edition, which will be hosted in Malaysia from January 18 to February 2, 2025. The New Zealand Under-19 World Cup squad will be announced on December 10, 2024.

Squads for National Under-19 Tournament

*Indicates players with domestic contracts

Auckland Hearts:

Simi Bajaj, Elizabeth Buchanan*, Kate Duffield, Kaitlyn Halliday, Kate Irwin*, Rishika Jaswal*, Ayaan Lambat, Holly Lightbourne, Eve Meachen, Anika Todd*, Anika Tauwhare, Neena Woolaston, Sophie Court*, Eli McKenna.

Northern Districts:

Tash Wakelin (c)*, Dayle Anderson, Charlotte Bell, Jessica Benge, Angela Clarke, Elin Gainsford, Catherine Hardie, Zamera Ikiua, Brittany Jenkins, Gemma Lovewell, Ananya Sharma, Miah Smith, Eve Wolland*

Central Districts Hinds:

Emma McLeod (c)*, Vanessa Taylor, Ella Hogan, Abby Treder, Sophie Campbell, Catherine Hockly, Charlotte Butler, Caitlin Marshall, Cara Hollard, Stella Cornelius, Jenna Allison, Anika Scott, Summer Lovegrove

Wellington:

Ava Conroy (c), Anya Birmingham, Lily Campbell, Kate Chandler*, Hannah Francis*, Eva Hay, Ashleigh Henderson, Nell McCrystal, Isla McKenzie, Esme Olney Boyd, Emma Parker, Neha Ramanathan, Anvi Verma

Canterbury:

Scarlett Amos, Sacha Arnold, Elsie Duncan, Izzy Fox, Chloe Graham, Camryn Linton, Meg Moffat, Aine Molony, Olivia Paul, Darcy-Rose Prasad, Hannah Ryan, Stella Stewart, Kat Thomas

Otago:

Gemma Burleigh, Sophie Deerness, Abby Fookes, Emily Hickey, Brooke Huddleston, Elisabeth Hutton-Neil, Louisa Kotkamp*, Molly Mason-Galletly, Georgie McEwen, Charlotte Morris, Beth O’Connor, Hannah O’Connor, Sorcha Wilkinson

Schedule for National Under-19 Tournament

Image Source: ICC @ YouTube