Canberra hosts Commonwealth Bank Under-19 Championship Series

The 2002-03 Commonwealth Bank Under-19 Championship Series begins in Canberra on Wednesday (11 December), with Australian states and territories competing in the re-formatted tournament.

This year, the championship will be played as a round robin event, maintaining the mix of one-day and two-day matches. The seven-round competition sees each state and territory play each other once during the 12-day series.

Under new rules introduced to the tournament, the winner of the Commonwealth Bank Under-19 Championship Series will be the team with the highest aggregate points from both the limited-over and two-day matches at the end of the seven-rounds on Sunday 22 December.

New South Wales will attempt to claim back-to-back championship titles after overcoming Queensland in last year's final.

Three members of Australia's International Cricket Council Under-19 World Champion team feature in this year's championship. Aaron Bird (New South Wales), Mark Cosgrove (South Australia) and Adam Crosthwaite (Victoria) return to represent their state, along with South Australian duo Cameron Borgas and Callum Ferguson, both Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy scholarship holders.

Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said the championship was important in developing promising players and preparing them for the next step in their career.

"The Commonwealth Bank Under-19 Championship Series continues to play a vital role in bridging the gap between elite youth and first-class cricket.

"Last season, several players went on to make their first-class debuts after participating in the 2001-02 championship, while 11 players were offered state or rookie contracts for the current season.

"This shows the strength of the game at this level and the important role that the championship plays in developing young cricketers," said Mr Sutherland.

Since the series' inception in 1969-70, 115 players at this level have progressed to represent Australia in the international arena. More than 450 have played first-class cricket.

Strong performances at this year's event could lead to Australian selection for the 2003 international series against England. The Australian under-19 team takes on an England under-19 side in three four-day matches and five limited-over matches in January and February next year in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.

The Australian under-19 team for the international series will be announced on Sunday 22 December at the Commonwealth Bank Under-19 Championship Series dinner in Canberra.

The Commonwealth Bank Under-19 Championship Series is run by the ACB in conjunction with the Australian Capital Territory Cricket Association.

Scorecards, reports and statistics from the Commonwealth Bank Under-19 Championship Series are available from the ACB's official website, www.baggygreen.com.au.