Canada @ 2023 ICC Americas U19 Qualifier

[Victorian]

Canada is in a strong position now although the USA has not played Argentina. The USA will be looking to massively improve their NRR vs Argentina. Why is Argentina even their? What’s the point of losing by 400 runs? There really should be a sub-regional qualifier. There are elsewhere in the world.

[ray]

Canada prevail over a resilient Bermuda. Despite losing 5 wickets for 60-odd runs, the Islanders posted a total of 202 - more than the USA scored against the hosts. The 2nd Canada-Bermuda encounter could be interesting.

In the other match of the day, the Americans apparently set a record for the highest total in an international U19 match: 505/8 against the outclassed Argentines.

Yes ... what to do about Argentina ? They should not really be there but they seem the only other Associate in the region that can field a men's youth side. Suriname withdraw before every tournament, Cayman Islands and Panama don't seem to have robust U19 programs.

[timmyj51]

It's a total condemnation of ICC's North American "development" office in Colorado Springs. It's done absolutely NOTHING
to help, support, or provide guidance to building up cricket in the western hemisphere. The office should be either shut down
or bring in someone who's willing to roll up their sleeves and do the heavy lifting.

[Victorian]

It’s a shame the tournament might come down to NRR. It’s resulting in Canada and the USA pouring it on to win as quickly as possible. I’m actually interested in the next Ber v Arg game.

[Victorian]

I'm wondering who Canada can play at this level going forward. Obviously, only Canada and the USA are equals here. Sub-regional competition would be good but then only a Canada u19A would make sense. Against ie Belize or El Salvador or something? I think more domestic high performance comps would be good to keep (get?) a pipeline going. More and regular Canada v USA series would be good for both. ODI funding should go to youth level development to keep increasing the national team's prospects. Canada has had u19 teams in the WI domestic comp. I'm just watching with envy a bit of Netherlands A v Guernsey.

[ray]

^ I don't think there is a solution that would satisfy everyone. After Canada/USA, there is a gap in talent to Bermuda followed by a gap to Argentina. Other countries don't have or only sometimes field U19 teams. Part of the problem is that of all its regions, the ICC is least interested in the Americas and spend accordingly. Whatever improvements can be made to U19 cricket and cricket in general will require more investment from the ICC.

A guest team from one of the West Indies boards in place of Argentina could improve the Americas U19s tournament but their matches against the Associates would not count in determining the berth for the U19 WC. Is there a need for a sub-regional competition to award Bermuda the place in the Americas finals they will surely win? Perhaps instead they should assemble Argentina, Caymans and Suriname for a U19 development camp.

Regardless, the onus is still on CC to continue to improve the development pathway to the national teams for Canadians. A few international matches of alone will not make a huge difference in terms of development unless backed by improved local training and competition.

[Victorian]

PDP says 23 over game to decide the qualifier. Any more weather delay will end the game I would think.

[ray]

Tough day for both teams to have to wait and wait and then be ready when you are called on.

The Americans seemed a bit stronger in their destruction of the two other sides. Their net run rate advantage was not insignificant. It was always going to be difficult to beat them twice. Canada did well to accomplish the feat once. In the end the better side is going to Sri Lanka. The U.S. will be even harder to beat in the future with the resources they have for player development.

[Victorian]

It’s crazy being overconfident but Canada will have an easy time of it at the T20WC Qualifier so they should take two or three of these u19s along and get them a game.

[timmyj51]

The extreme disparity in North American cricket is totally the fault of the ICC!
After years of "development" countries like Bahamas, Belize, Caymans, Panama, etc. still
can't even field an U-19 mens or women's senior team! Argentina's been playing for decades
and are still crap! What's that person in Colorado Springs been doing?