Archie Vaughan Appointed as Captain of England's Under-19 Team for South Africa Tour

New Delhi, Jan 8 (NationPress) All-rounder Archie Vaughan is set to captain the England men’s Under-19 team during their imminent tour of South Africa. Archie, the son of former England captain Michael Vaughan, will lead an 18-member squad participating in three 50-over matches and two red-ball fixtures from January 14 until February 6.

Last season, Archie showcased his talent by taking 15 wickets and scoring 236 runs in only four County Championship matches for Somerset. "I discovered I was appointed captain during the training camp prior to Christmas, and it was an incredibly special moment. The chance to represent England at this level is truly significant, but leading the team is something beyond that," Archie stated in a release from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

"This will undoubtedly be a great challenge, and we must adapt to the local conditions. The training camp we had over there before Christmas was extremely beneficial, and we’re all eager to get started,” he added.

“If someone had told me a year ago that I'd make my way into the Somerset first team and be captaining the Under-19 team, I would have found it hard to believe. Everything has progressed rapidly, but I intend to stay grounded and continue working hard. My next goal is to achieve success in South Africa, and I hope to perform well," he expressed.

The England U19 squad is scheduled to depart on Thursday ahead of their first 50-over match against the South Africa U19 team on January 17. The two-match red-ball series will kick off in Stellenbosch on January 26, followed by the second match in Cape Town on February 3.

“After putting in substantial effort during a productive camp before Christmas, we now have the chance to compete against South Africa Under-19s, which is very exciting for the boys wearing an England shirt,” remarked Michael Yardy, head coach of the England U19 team.

In a related announcement, South Africa has also revealed their U19 squads, with Bennie Hansen appointed as captain for both the 50-over and red-ball matches. “Concerning Bennie Hansen, he has excelled in his captaincy and leadership roles while leading Western Province at Khaya Majola and Cubs Week. Importantly, Bennie has been involved in our Under-19 program,” said head coach Malibongwe Maketa.

“He toured Bangladesh with us and has a solid understanding of our desired style of play. His positive intent aligns with our approach, making it an easier decision to appoint him as captain. He has developed significantly in recent months, and I’m excited to see how he handles the challenge against England," added Maketa.

England U19 Squad: Archie Vaughan (captain), Farhan Ahmed, Tazeem Ali, Ben Dawkins, Kesh Fonseka (Test squad only), Alex French, Alex Green, Jack Home, James Isbell, Eddie Jack, Ben Mayes, James Minto, Harry Moore, Joe Moores (ODIs only), Thomas Rew, Aaryan Sawant, Naavya Sharma, and Alexander Wade.

South Africa U19 ODI Squad: Bennie Hansen (Captain), Daniel Bosman, Raeeq Daniels, Divan de Villiers, Carl Fryer, Paul James, Enathi Khitshini, Adnaan Lagadien, Chad Mason, Bandile Mbatha, Nqobani Mokoena, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka, Semal Pillay, Jason Rowles, and Ntando Soni.

South Africa U19 Test Squad: Bennie Hansen (Captain), Daniel Bosman, Muhammad Bulbulia, Raeeq Daniels, Divan de Villiers, Paul James, Martin Khumalo, Adnaan Lagadien, Chad Mason, Nqobani Mokoena, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka, Nathan Rossouw, Jason Rowles, Jorich van Schalkwyk, and Sandiswa Yeni.