The runners up from the last edition in Malaysia will again be expected to make it big in the ICC U 19 CWC in New Zealand.

Wayne Parnell proved to be in inspirational form for his side at the 2008 event, finishing the tournament as the leading wicket-taker, before quickly becoming a regular in the senior team.

Last time around the team claimed victory in the initial stages over West Indies by three wickets and Papua New Guinea by seven wickets, losing its other group match to India. It thrashed Bangladesh by 201 runs in the quarter-finals and previous title holders Pakistan by 98 runs (Duckworth-Lewis) in the semis.

In the rain-interrupted final, despite limiting India to 159, South Africa failed to get the much-needed runs and fell short by 12 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

South Africa was also the runner up in the 2002 event in New Zealand losing to Cameron White’s Australia by seven wickets, with an impressive side that featured the likes of Graeme Smith, Ryan McLaren and Hashim Amla, who was the skipper of the team.

In recent games, South Africa won both an ODI series against England 3-2, winning the decisive game of the series, and also two Twenty20 matches against the same team in January 2009. It warmed up for this tournament with a home tri-series against India and Sri Lanka.

Players also had the chance to spend time together during the Khaya Majola U19 cricket week in Benoni in mid December, in an event which is regarded as the pinnacle of high school cricket.

Under the experienced guidance of Ray Jennings, a coach who has worked with the senior South Africa side as well as the Bangalore Royal Challengers, the youngsters have been selected from a series of camps and through the Talent Acceleration Programme (TAP).

In a group with Australia, Ireland and the USA, the side has to be regarded as one of the favourites for the event and it will be desperate to become the first South African side to win the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup.