5 current overseas players you might not know played against Virat Kohli in the 2008 U19 World Cup

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Over the years we've seen a plethora of cricketers show their prominence in youth Cricket and translate them on the big stage- International Cricket.

From Yuvraj Singh in 2000s to the likes of Dhawan, Raina (2004) and Virat Kohli in 2008, each U-19 has given us a star for the future. But there has been no greater batch than that of 2008 U-19 World Cup which saw cricketers not only from India but from across the world rise to glory when fast-tracked to International cricket.

Today, in this article, we will have a look at some of the current overseas stars which you may not know played against Virat Kohli in 2008 U-19 World cup.

Here's my compliation:


#5 Dinesh Chandimal

Chandimal- The bedrock of Sri Lanka's batting
Chandimal- The bedrock of Sri Lanka's batting

Having turned a corner by switching to wicket-keeping after his bowling action was deemed illegal in U-13 trials, and accumulating truckload of runs in school and college cricket, the current Sri Lankan Test captain Dinesh Chandimal was bestowed with a spot in Sri Lanka's U-19 team, and blazed away with successive centuries against India and England, to earn himself a spot for the 2008 World Cup.

A slew of consistent performances saw Chandimal made his Test debut against South Africa at the Boxing Day Test in 2011. However, his finest hour arrived in Galle 2015, when he inflicted an incredible counterattack on India with an astounding 162 to script a memorable win for his side. Chandimal was named Test captain following Angelo Matthews resignation from the post and has accumulated 3416 Test runs at an average of 43.79 which includes 10 hundred. Chandimal got a major fillip to his career when he scored truckloads of runs in the domestic circuit and was drafted in the national team for the 2010 World T20. Consistent performances in the T20 circuit saw him make his ODI debut the same year against Zimbabwe and announced himself to the world with a blistering maiden ton against India.

#4 Josh Hazlewood

England v Australia - ICC Champions Trophy
The key component in Australia's bowling attack

The youngest fast-bowler to represent New South Wales, Josh Hazlewood was the part of Australia's U-19 World Cup squad. Following consistent performances in the domestic circuit, Hazlewood earned his national call-up in the 50-over format against England in 2010.

A slew of injuries and competition for places in the Aussie team meant Hazlewood had to wait for three more years to play his second ODI. Hazlewood then went on to represent the Sydney Sixers in the inaugural edition of the BBL, where he went on to become the leading wicket-taker (14 wickets) in the 2013-14 season, ahead of Mitchell Starc.

The second-highest wicket-taker in Sixers history, Hazlewood was drafted into the Aussie ODI team against South Africa in 2014 and claimes a five-wicket-haul at the WACA. Gritty performances in the 50-over format meant Hazlewood was handed the coveted Baggy Green in the summer of 2014/15 against India.

Hazlewood made an immediate impression as he rocked the Indian batting line-up, and bagged a five-wicket haul in the process. A crucial part of Australia's 2015 WC winning campaign (7 wickets at an average of 25), Hazlewood is now the bedrock of his team's bowling forming an enviable pair with tearaway fast-bowler Mitchell Starc.

#3 Tim Southee

CRICKET-NZL-ENG
Southee was adjudged Player of the Tournament in 2008

With an inherent ability to vary his pace line-length and subsequently bowling vicious outswingers with aplomb, Tim Southee has truly established his credentials as one of the World's leading fast-bowler.

Southee shot into prominence with his exploits in Youth-Cricket where he featured in 2006 and 2008 U-19 World Cup (Player of the Tournament). Southee was fast-tracked into the National team in 2008 and has since been a constant in all of New Zealand's achievement since the 2000s.

Semifinal finish in the 2011 World Cup which included a stunning win over South Africa, had Southee finish with 18 wickets at an average of 17.33., but his finest hour in International Cricket truly arrived in New Zealand's rare Test win (2012-13 season) in Sri Lanka, where the swing bowler took an excellent eight-wicket match haul.

The pivotal member of New Zealand's 2015 runners-up squad, Southee has scalped 458 wickets in 243 matches across formats, and along with his ally Trent Boult, who was also one of the stars to come out of the U-19 World Cup 2008, boast of the one of the most lethal fast-bowling pair in contemporary cricket.

#2 Steven Smith

South Africa v Australia - 3rd Test: Day 2
Steven Smith featured as a leggie in the U-19 World Cup 2008

Having made his debut as a leg-spinner in the domestic circuit across formats in 2007-08, Steven Smith's boyish charm and similarities in his action drew parallels from the then recently retired Shane Warne.

Smith featured in the 2008 U-19 World Cup for Australia and made his international debut for Australia against Pakistan in 2010 as a leg-spinner who could bat a bit, amid skepticism on his credentials by fans and pundits alike. After having copped a plethora of criticism on his selection or his pedigree as a Test match player, Smith was axed from all formats of the game after Australia lost the coveted urn at home to the English in the summer of 2010-11.

However, it was the same opposition three years later that saw the resurgence of Smith. His different technique along with an exaggerated trigger movement coupled with a constant shuffle paved the way for Smith's redemption as his crucial hundred at Melbourne Cricket Ground as the Aussies to clinched the Ashes in 2013-14.

If 2013-14 were an indication of Smith's resurgence, the succeeding season would establish his credentials as the best Test batter. Smith scored over 700 runs against India at home in 2014-15 empowering him to reach the zenith of Test rankings.

Nevertheless, his finest hour in Test cricket arrived last year when he scored a tenacious hundred in the second innings at Pune on a dust-bowl masquerading as the first Test pitch to help Australia win their Test in India since Nagpur, 2004. Smith was at it again in the home Ashes against England as the former Aussie skipper as he accumulated 687 runs in seven innings with two double-hundred at a monstrous average of 137.40, recording the second-highest score by an Aussie captain in a single Ashes series.

He may be out of active cricket for one year due to the ball-tampering scandal but Smith's transformation from a leggie to a world-beating batsman truly panders to the romantics of this beautiful game.

#1 Kane Williamson

The Modern-day Monk
The Modern-day Monk

At the age of 17, Kane Williamson made his debut in First-Class Cricket and was named the captain of the U-19 team for the World Cup in 2008. Williamson was already earmarked as the potential great since his U-19 days owing to his leadership skills and a non-Asian quality to play top-quality spin with precision.

But it was only in 2015, after few years of inconsistent returns that Williamson embarked his name into the big league as he scored 1172 runs at a staggering average of 90. After a plethora of consistent performances and with his tactical acumen on full show, Williamson was appointed as the Blackcaps skipper following McCullum's retirement, and while he still has a long way to go in terms of success, his street-smartness is something that sets him apart from his contemporaries, testified by his superlative captaincy that saw his IPL team, the Sunrisers Hyderabad, make their way to the finals in the 2018 edition of the IPL. Having made his debut in Ahmedabad 2010 against India Williamson exemplified his skills with a pristine hundred on his debut against a top quality spin attack of India.

In 243 matches across formats, the Kiwi skipper has scored 11,881 runs which include 57 half-centuries and 29 tons and is primed to become the first New Zealander to breach the zenith of 10,000 Test runs by the time his career sets into the sunset.

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Edited by Amar Anand