Under-19 World Cup nightmare for USA

What was supposed to be a dream trip for 15 of America's best young cricketers turned into an absolute nightmare over the month of January. They came into the Under-19 World Cup rated 15th in the world with the hope that they might pull off the near impossible by winning two games in Group B to advance to the Super League, thereby establishing themselves as a top eight team. They failed to do that.

However, they almost managed to do something else that was believed to be nearly impossible before this tournament began: lose every single game in the competition to finish dead last. Only a rout over a diluted Afghanistan squad spared USA such embarrassment. Finishing 15th was the most tangible proof that no progress had been made by the squad in the four months since they qualified for the World Cup in Toronto.

After starting the tour with a not so impressive four-wicket win over local Christchurch club Burnside CC, the team was in for a rude awakening two days later when they were trounced by a state youth team, Canterbury Under-17s. The scorecard might say Canterbury won by five wickets, but that was far more flattering to USA than what actually occurred.

For the second match in a row, USA lost their first two wickets on the first two balls of the morning. USA couldn't fall back on the excuse that it took place against a group of college-aged peers like their first opponents. This time, they had been rolled over for 96 by a bunch of pimple-faced teens who had only just reached puberty.

The next day, alarm bells starting ringing loudly when USA lost to Hong Kong by six wickets. This was the same Hong Kong team that USA should have beaten with ease in their last game at the World Cup Qualifier in Canada, but only managed to scrape by with a one-wicket victory with a ball to spare chasing 210.

This time around Hong Kong cantered to victory, passing the target of 183 with almost 18 overs to spare. Hong Kong captain James Atkinson notched 100 in only 86 balls. He was someone who scored a grand total of 46 runs in seven innings at the World Cup Qualifier and was out first ball in the match in Toronto against USA.

The first official tournament warm-up fixture against India provided more growing pains. Mayank Agarwal was set to score a double-century had he not retired after the 21st over upon reaching his hundred.

The next day, Papua New Guinea decided to rest their most incisive pace bowlers Raymond Haoda and John Reva, who took 7 for 34 against USA when the teams played in Toronto. After USA posted a healthy 286, PNG's batsmen showed no interest in chasing the runs, rather only in getting some time out in the middle. The resulting victory by 116 runs imbued the USA squad with false confidence.

They tried to build themselves up believing they had bowled India out inside of 50 overs and had beaten PNG soundly, but under the circumstances, it was hard to qualify those statements without placing an asterisk next to them.

A flight to Queenstown left the team enamoured with the beauty of the surrounding landscape. It served only as a mirage though for the ugliness that followed in three Group B matches they played. They bowled Australia out for 262 with three balls to spare which, looking back, was a great achievement as USA was the only team to take 10 wickets against the eventual Under-19 World Cup Champions. However, USA was brought back down to earth when they were reduced to 28 for 7 after 10 overs of the chase. The silver lining on the batting card was Andy Mohammed's determined 70.

South Africa brought them more misery as another batting collapse was followed by uncharacteristically sloppy fielding in an eight-wicket defeat. Ireland inflicted more punishment in the form of Paul Stirling, who teased USA during his team's chase by blocking and nudging singles before the second drinks break only to brutally assault them afterwards on his way to a century to bring the match to its end. It meant the Americans were traveling to Napier empty-handed in the wins column.

The team morale was at an all time low. While there was plenty of blame to go around, a large portion of it belonged to the management staff that was in place on the first two qualifying trips to Toronto, led by Coach Sew Shivnarain. The staff's lack of professionalism exhibited both on and off the field set the tone for the players, who were infected with a poor attitude in New Zealand.

Despite the addition of a few very useful members to the staff for a December training camp in Florida and the World Cup tour, the damage was done back in July and September. The effect on the players was irreversible. At least one player who wished to remain anonymous said that the team did not mind losing because they did not want Shivnarain to get credit for any wins. They couldn't be motivated, inspired or cajoled in any way into giving the requisite performance needed to reverse the trend.

After fighting for their lives against Australia and South Africa, USA capitulated against Zimbabwe in the 13th place playoff match to be all out for 115. There were six ducks on the scoresheet against a Zimbabwean bowling attack that was hands down the weakest USA faced in the tournament.

On the field, they seemed not to care that they had been beaten soundly in almost all of their games. They looked flat and devoid of emotion. Off the field, one would think that they had set the World Cup on fire. The image they presented was that they came to New Zealand to party first and play cricket second, which unsurprisingly resulted in a second place result in all but their last tournament game.

The lack of a solid management team from the start of the journey in Toronto got to captain Shiva Vashishat more than anyone. Since July, the captain faced more pressure and had to take on more responsibility than he should have because of the ineptitude of the adults in charge. It clearly took a heavy toll on him until he finally started to crack. Of the seven players who played in every game for USA, he finished with the fewest runs at the World Cup.

Despite the fact that he was one of only three players whose family flew to New Zealand to support him, his body language consistently showed that he couldn't wait for the tournament to end. His confidence had hit rock bottom. It was a total shame as he is a very classy and respectful person, but he had been left on an island for the past seven months and this was what happened as a result.

USACA CEO Don Lockerbie was present in Queenstown to witness all activities during the team's Group B phase. It was no coincidence that he issued a statement before the tournament had concluded that he intends to hire a full-time professional coaching staff for the national teams in the near future. It is not so much the professional playing skills that USA's players at all levels need. The talent was clearly not lacking judging by some of the impressive performances turned in by players like Mohammed, Saqib Saleem, Steven Taylor and Greg Sewdial.

Rather it is vital that they develop a professional attitude and mental approach to the game, something that was completely absent on this tour. Hopefully, that is the biggest lesson learned for USACA and USA's players, one of many lessons that need to be taken in if they hope to make clear progress in the future.