Sangha’s men eye rare Aussie U-19 feat

SCOTT BAILEY AUSTRALIAN under-19 captain Jason Sangha is eyeing off an illustrious group including Cameron White and Mitchell Marsh as World Cup-winning skippers ahead of today’s final against India.

Sangha will lead Australia for the decider against a dominant India in the New Zealand town of Mount Maunganui.

If Australia are successful, Sangha will join White (2002), Marsh (2010) and Victorian Geoff Parker (1988) as the only captains to lead the side to a title in the youth World Cup.

“I’m quite an aggressive captain in the way I set my fields and always looking to take wickets and put pressure back on the batsmen,” Sangha said. “I’m quite open as captain as well – I like taking ideas from other players.

“It’s not just me taking ownership, it’s a lot of other guys taking ownership as well.”

Sangha’s star players have been far and wide.

Legspinner Lloyd Pope made a name for himself with 8-35 in a miracle quarterfinal comeback win over England.

Quicks Jason Ralston and Jonathan Merlo have imposed themselves with respective figures of 7-15 and 4-24 against Papua New Guinea and semifinalists Afghanistan.

Jack Edwards has averaged 47 with the bat and 16.20 with the ball and Nathan McSweeney hit the tournament’s fourth-highest score with his 156 against PNG.