Fixtures and Squads Revealed for NZC 2024-25 National Under-19 Tournament

Previously, the age group for New Zealand’s domestic tournament was 21. The inaugural edition of the tournament was played in 2003/04, and Central Districts were the inaugural winners of the tournament. Until the 16th edition in the year 2018/19, the tournament was played at the Under-21 level. Auckland aced the tournament with 8 standalone titles excluding the 2nd edition in 2004/05.

The tournament was then brought down to an Under-19 level, as the ICC announced the Women’s Under-19 World Cup in 2019. Out of the five editions of the tournament at the Under-19 level so far, Auckland and Central Districts have a couple of titles each, and Wellington claimed their overall 2nd title, their first at the Under-19 age group in 2022/23.

The upcoming edition is going to be the 6th edition of the National Under-19 tournament. There will be as many as 10 players namely, Elizabeth Buchanan, Kate Irwin, Rishika Jaswal, Anika Todd, and Sophie Court representing Auckland, skipper Tash Wakelin and Eve Wolland from the Northern Districts, skipper Emma McLeod from the Central Districts, Kate Chandler, and Hannah Francis from Wellington with senior domestic contracts.

“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,” shared the 20-year-old young batter Georgia Plimmer who came up through the ranks and was recently a part of the White Ferns maiden ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign in UAE in 2024, about her experience of being a part of the National Under-19 tournament.

The upcoming 6th edition of the tournament will have six teams, namely, Auckland, Northern Districts, Central Districts, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago participating in the tournament. The tournament will commence from 1st December to 7th December 2024 and the tournament will be played 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,” said New Zealand Cricket High-Performance Coach Sara McGlashan about the tournament being an opportunity for youngsters to showcase their talent at the national level and is keen to follow the tournament from close quarters.

The tournament is also an opportunity for the players to put their hat in the ring for a selection in the World Cup squad for the upcoming 2nd edition of the tournament that will be hosted by Malaysia from 18th January 2025 to 2nd February 2025. New Zealand’s Under-19 World Cup squad will be picked on 10th December 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

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