The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced a squad of fourteen players to compete in the 2002 ICC Under 19 World Cup in New Zealand.

The squad will depart for acclimatisation in Adelaide, Australia, in late December before travelling to New Zealand in the New Year. The competition begins on Saturday 19 January with the final played on Saturday 9 February.

Nicky Peng will captain the team, having spent November and December with the new ECB National Academy squad in Adelaide, Australia.

Paul Farbrace, England Under 19 coach, said, "The Under 19 World Cup is a pressurised environment. Every game can be the last, so attitude and self-belief are key characteristics for successful teams. The tough conditions will enable our players to learn more about themselves, and hopefully help make them better cricketers."

The ICC Under 19 World Cup is contested every two years and was last won by India in January 2000 when the tournament was played in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

England Under 19 won the competition in 1998 in South Africa with a squad featuring four players who have subsequently represented England at senior level: Owais Shah, Paul Franks, Chris Schofield and Graeme Swann.

England Under 19 squad
*	Kadeer Ali - Worcestershire
*	Tim Bresnan - Yorkshire
*	Nicholas Compton - Middlesex
*	Christopher Gilbert - Yorkshire
*	Kyle Hogg - Lancashire
*	Nadeem Malik - Nottinghamshire
*	Paul McMahon - Nottinghamshire
*	Gordon Muchall - Durham
*	Samit Patel - Nottinghamshire
*	Nicky Peng (capt) - Durham
*	Stephen Pope (wk) - Gloucestershire
*	Mark Pettini - Essex
*	Alex Roberts - Yorkshire
*	Bilal Shafayat - Nottinghamshire

Management:
James Whitaker	        Manager
Paul Farbrace		Coach
Ann Brentnall		Physiotherapist
Mark Simpson		Physiologist (Adelaide only)

England Itinerary – key dates

2001
Late Dec   Depart from London for Adelaide, Australia (exact date tbc)

2002
Early Jan       Pre-World Cup preparation.  Practice matches to be arranged 
                in Adelaide
Sun, 13 Jan     Transfer to Christchurch, New Zealand
                Accommodation: Lincoln University Campus
Mon, 14 Jan     World Cup Opening Ceremony

Practice matches
Tue, 15 Jan     Practice Match – v New Zealand    Lincoln No. 3, Lincoln
Thur, 17 Jan    Practice Match  v Sri Lanka       Hagley Oval, Chch

World Cup matches
Mon, 21 Jan     v Nepal                   Lincoln Green, Lincoln
Wed, 23 Jan     v Papua New Guinea        Lincoln Green, Lincoln
Fri, 25 Jan     v Pakistan                Lincoln No. 3, Lincoln

Sat, 26 Jan     Travel to appropriate venue
                Super League - Lincoln/Christchurch
                Plate – Auckland
27 Jan – 1 Feb	Super League and Plate Competitions

Sat, 2 Feb      Qualifying teams assemble in Christchurch

3-7 Feb         Semi Finals
Fri, 8 Feb      Plate Final               Lincoln No. 3, Lincoln
Sat, 9 Feb      Super League Final        Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln
                Closing Ceremony

Sun, 10 Feb     (Reserve Day)

World Cup Groups

Group A         Group B         Group C         Group D
India           Sri Lanka       Pakistan        Australia
South Africa    New Zealand     England         West Indies
Bangledesh      Zimbabwe        Nepal           Scotland
Canada          Namibia         Papua NG        Kenya

© ECB