Group A Preview 

Defending champions Australia headline Group A of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 alongside three teams hoping to earn a maiden trophy.

Australia triumphed at the 2024 edition in South Africa to be crowned the victors for the fourth time.

In the group stage, they will take on year 2000 runners-up Sri Lanka, as well as Ireland, in their 12th appearance at the tournament, and a Japan side featuring for only the second time.

Australia

Both the first and most recent winners of the tournament, Australia are the second-most successful team at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.

They have played all but one tournament and have reached the final six times, including in 2024 where they beat India.

There is only one surviving member of the victorious squad from two years ago, and this time he is the captain.

Oliver Peake was called into the squad as an injury replacement and went on to make 46 not out in the final.

Another member of the winning team, Sam Konstas, has gone on to make his Test debut for Australia since lifting the trophy.

The majority of the 2026 squad played together in a winless series against India’s U19 team, with Nitesh Samuel, Naden Cooray and William Taylor earning call-ups following strong showings in the U19 Male National Championships.

Following victories in the 1988 and 2002 tournaments, the 2010 squad featured several stars who went on to represent Australia, including Mitchell Marsh, Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa.

Ireland

Just as in 2024, Ireland have been grouped with the defending champions, having played India in South Africa two years ago.

They reached the Super 6 stage last time out, beating New Zealand as Gavin Roulston made 82 and Oliver Riley took three for 20.

Riley has returned for more, as he captains the team, and is being supported by vice-captain Reuben Wilson, who first played in the tournament in 2022 aged just 15.

They are the only returning players from 2024, but the side is not lacking in experience with Adam Leckey, Seb Dijkstra and Thomas Ford all plying their trade in Australia over the winter.

The team had been training together since September and were supported by several senior international players including George Dockrell, Gareth Delany and Lorcan Tucker.

Dockrell took 15 wickets for the U19 team between 2010 and 2012 as Ireland finished 10th at the 2010 edition, their joint-best finish.

Japan

Japan will feature at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup for only the second time, having made their debut in 2020.

Drawn against eventual finalists India, as well as New Zealand and Sri Lanka, Japan suffered two heavy defeats and one no result in the group stages.

In the plate quarter-final against England, they recorded their highest score of the tournament with 93, improving that to 118 against Canada.

They finished the tournament with a defeat to Nigeria and now return years after their maiden appearance.

Kazumo Kato-Stafford will captain the team, just as he did at the ACC Premier Cup, where Kaisei Kobayashi-Doggett made a century against Qatar.

The team also features three brothers, with Charles, Gabriel and Montgomery Hara-Hinze all selected together.

They will be supported in Namibia by men’s senior captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, who will serve as assistant coach as he did in 2020.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka have never finished lower than 10th at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, having appeared at every edition of the tournament.

Their best result came in 2000 when they finished as runners-up to India as hosts.

Jehan Mubarak top-scored with 58 in the final as Sri Lanka made 178, but India were able to chase down the total with 9.2 overs to spare as they won the first of their five titles.

Since then, Sri Lanka have made the semi-finals on two more occasions, reaching the Super Six stage last time out.

None of that squad remains as Vimath Dinsara takes over from Sineth Jayawardena as captain.

Most recently, Sri Lanka reached the semi-finals of the ACC U19 Men’s Asia Cup, losing out to India in a rain-affected match.

Fixtures

• 16 January – Australia v Ireland
• 17 January – Japan v Sri Lanka
• 19 January – Ireland v Sri Lanka
• 20 January – Australia v Japan
• 22 January – Ireland v Japan
• 3 January – Australia v Sri Lanka