Indian-origin opening batter Neel Patel has earned one of the biggest opportunities of his young cricket career after being named in Australia’s Under-19 squad for a multi-format tour of India next month.
For Patel, whose cricketing journey began in the most ordinary of settings, the selection represents another significant step in a rapidly rising career.
His first cricketing memory is not of a cricket ground, but the balcony of his family’s apartment in Australia, where his grandfather would bowl underarm to him while Patel, armed with a plastic foam bat, tried to hit the ball as hard as he could.
There was no talk of technique, roles or long-term plans — just a child, a bat and a ball.
Now, the New South Wales youngster is among 16 of Australia’s brightest emerging cricketers selected for the four-week tour, which will feature three 50-over matches and two four-day matches against India Under-19s in Rajkot and Ahmedabad from September 13 to October 9.
The squad will be coached by experienced mentor Tim Nielsen, with fast bowlers Will Byrom and Kasey Barton among the key players returning from Australia’s Under-19 World Cup campaign earlier this year.
Byrom took 10 wickets at 10.50 during the tournament in Zimbabwe, while Barton claimed four wickets as Australia reached the semi-finals before losing to England by 27 runs.
For Patel, the tour will provide an opportunity to test himself against one of the world’s strongest junior cricket systems in conditions that are very different from those in Australia.
An elegant opening batter who also bowls useful off-spin, Patel has quickly progressed through Australia’s junior cricket pathway thanks to his consistency and maturity at the crease.
Representing the University of New South Wales Cricket Club, Patel made headlines at just 16 by becoming one of the youngest players in Sydney Premier Cricket First Grade history after scoring more than 1,000 runs in a calendar year.
He has since added a maiden first-grade century to his growing list of achievements.
His performances also earned him selection for Cricket Australia’s Under-19 Men’s Talent Camp in Adelaide, where he was identified as one of the country’s leading young prospects.
Patel currently opens the batting for New South Wales at junior level and has developed a reputation for occupying the crease for long periods while continuing to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard moving.
His ability to contribute with off-spin adds another dimension to his game.
Despite his rapid rise, Patel remains focused on the areas of his game he believes need improvement.
Speaking to Cricket Australia, the teenager said he had been working extensively on his back-foot game after receiving advice from his coaches.
“Batting wise, it’s back-foot stuff. I’ve been given advice from my coaches on how to work on that. Then also fielding, and the strength and fitness side of the game.”
One of Patel’s distinctive habits is maintaining a detailed OneNote journal documenting every innings he plays.
After each match, he records what worked well and the areas where he needs to improve.
“I think it’s just to stay on track with what I do and just be accountable. The OneNote keeps track of my performances; what I did well and what I can improve on for every single game, so I’m always learning.”
Away from cricket, Patel enjoys cooking, playing chess with his father and building.
Cricket Australia Head of National Development Sonya Thompson said the tour would provide Australia’s emerging players with valuable experience against high-quality opposition.
“We are really pleased to provide the opportunity to some of Australia’s best young players to continue their development as part of our pathways program,” Thompson said.
“Touring India and playing against high-quality opposition in challenging conditions will be a valuable experience and test the players technically and mentally across formats.”
The tour is part of Cricket Australia’s broader effort to increase opportunities for young players to gain experience in Asian conditions.
A CA Development squad has also travelled to Chennai for the annual MRF Academy Program, while Australia’s A side is scheduled to tour India in September for two first-class matches.
For Patel, however, the Under-19 tour carries an added significance.
Returning to the country of his family’s heritage, the young opener will have the chance to measure his progress against India’s emerging stars — while taking another step towards his ambition of establishing himself in Australian cricket.
Kasey Barton (TAS/Mosman CC), Hayden Barbulovic (SA/Tea Tree Gully DCC), Eli Brain (QLD/Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club), Will Byrom (NSW/Northern District CC), Blake Cattle (NSW/Keira CC, Illawarra), Jack Czosnek (VIC/Richmond CC), Spencer Green (QLD/Toombul District Cricket Club), Connor Gregory (SA/Sturt DCC), Charlie Henderson (QLD/University of Queensland Cricket Club), Zed Hollick (WA/Scarborough CC), Matthew Lough (WA/Claremont Nedlands Cricket Club), Neel Patel (NSW/University of NSW Cricket Club), Jacob Pietz (VIC/Camberwell Magpies CC), Patrick Sullivan (VIC/Geelong CC), Theo Tsingos (QLD/Sandgate Redcliffe District Cricket Club) and Thomas Vaseo (QLD/Redlands Tigers Cricket Club).
Queensland provides the largest representation with five players, while Victoria and New South Wales each have three.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
