The seventh Under-19 World Cup begins in Malaysia on Sunday, with England aiming to win the biennial tournament for the first time since 1998. Alex Wakely’s team raised hopes on Monday when they beat Pakistan, the winners of the past two World Cups, in a warm-up match, but they lost a second game to India by six wickets.

Steven Finn, the 6ft 8in Middlesex fast bowler, and James Harris, who took 12 wickets in a match for Glamorgan last year, are England’s strike bowlers and they had India seven for three yesterday, chasing 220 to win, before India recovered. England’s greatest strength is their batting, with Billy Godleman, the Middlesex opener who has a first-class hundred to his name, leading a talented and fairly long order. “The team behind me is one of incredible talent,” Wakely, of Northamptonshire, said.

Godleman and James Taylor, who has joined Leicestershire, put on 110 for the first wicket on Monday as England made small amends for a 3-1 series defeat by Pakistan at home last summer. However, Pakistan are the favourites to win a hat-trick of world titles, having beaten Australia 5-0 away last October and won a tri-nations tournament, featuring Sri Lanka and England, two weeks ago.

They are captained by Imad Wasim, a slow left-arm bowler and middle-order batsman with a first-class batting average of 50. He was born in Swansea but moved to Islamabad when he was six months old. “I don’t feel Welsh in the slightest,” he said.

Pakistan won the 2006 final in miraculous fashion: having made only 109, they dismissed India for 71. The Pakistan team this year include Umar Akmal, a talented batsman and brother of Kamran, the Test wicketkeeper. Darren Bravo, the brother of Dwayne, showed some of the family magic on Tuesday as West Indies beat Sri Lanka, making 43 not out and taking two wickets for three runs.

England, the No 4 seeds, begin in Kuala Lumpur against Ireland on Sunday. The Irish almost pulled off a shock in this tournament two years ago when they lost to England by only four runs, but England’s biggest challenge should be against Bangladesh on February 22, while Bermuda, their other group rivals, have someone with senior World Cup experience: Malachi Jones, who took a wicket with his first ball against India last year, famously caught at slip by Dwayne Leverock.

The lost boys

In 1998, England won the Under19 World Cup in South Africa under the captaincy of Owais Shah, the England batsman, who is in New Zealand alongside Graeme Swann, a teammate in 1998. But of the 13 other players in that squad, only Robert Key and Chris Schofield have played Test cricket and seven have left the first-class game.

Owais Shah (Middlesex): Made England one-day debut in 2001 but has only two Test caps.

Ian Flanagan (Essex): Moved to play second XI for Kent and Leicestershire. Works in recruitment in Brisbane.

Paul Franks (Nottinghamshire): All-rounder, often injured. Played one one-day international in 2000.

Michael Gough (Durham): Went on England A tour but left game in 2003. An ECB umpire.

Jamie Grove (Essex): Fast bowler also played for Leicestershire and Somerset. Sales manager.

Giles Haywood (Sussex): Took three for 18 with medium pace in 1998 final. Released in 1999, he became a chartered surveyor.

Robert Key (Kent): Has played 15 Tests, averaging 31. Captains Kent.

Aaron Laraman (Middlesex): Released by Somerset in 2005. Plays for Hertfordshire.

Richard Logan (Northamptonshire): Went to Nottinghamshire and Hampshire before returning to his first county.

Graham Napier (Essex): Solid county pro; in 2004 ECB academy.

Stephen Peters (Essex): Made a hundred in 1998 final. Went to Worcestershire before joining Northamptonshire in 2006.

Jon Powell (Essex): Left in 1999 after three first-class games. Plays club cricket and travels.

Chris Schofield (Lancashire): Played two Tests as a 21-year-old but wicketless. Released in 2004; given a contract by Surrey in 2007 and played in World Twenty20.

Graeme Swann (Northamptonshire): Has become England’s leading one-day spinner. Move to Nottinghamshire helped.

Nick Wilton (Sussex): Wicketkeeper was released in 2001. Works for Gray-Nicolls.

Words by Patrick Kidd

Explore Cricket

• Counties