When it comes to talent identification there aren't many better than Ireland when it comes to players 'kicking on' and graduating from the youth ranks to senior recognition.
Ireland have played in nine Under 19 World Cups, with the first coming back in 1998, with four of the squad earning full honours.
Ed Joyce (151 caps) being the star of the quartet, with the others being Waringstown wicket-keeper Johnny Bushe, Donemana speedster Dwayne McGerrigle, and Neil Anderson.
1998 South Africa; 4 players : Total caps 189; E Joyce 151, J Bushe 29, D McGerrigle 7, N Anderson 2
In the class of 2000, Andy White and Niall O'Brien both won over 200 caps, with John Mooney and Dom Joyce also featuring regularly.
2000 Sri Lanka 8 players; 724 caps: A White 232, N O’Brien 216, J Mooney 182, D Joyce 69, J McGonigle 9, D McGerrigle 7, R Haire 7, P Shields 2.
Ireland missed out in 2002, but the class of 2004 saw six graduates including Kevin O'Brien, William Porterfield, Gary Wilson, Boyd Rankin and Eoin Morgan - the so called 'golden generation'. Morgan holds the record for most runs in U19 tournaments, with Greg Thompson the leading wicket taker, going in to play in the next two editions as well.
2004 Bangladesh 6 players; Total caps 1,226; K O’Brien 386, W Porterfield 307, G Wilson 292, B Rankin 153, E Morgan 63, G Thompson 25
Morgan was captain in 2006 in Sri Lanka, which also featured Wilson and Thompson. Andrew Poynter would win 69 caps, and Gary Kidd 22. There were four whose flames flickered briefly winning single digit numbers - James Hall, Fintan McAllister, Gavin McKenna, and David Rankin.
2006 Sri Lanka 9 players; Total caps 509; G Wilson 292, A Poynter 69, E Morgan 63, G Thompson 25, G Kidd 22, J Hall 8, F McAllister 6, G McKenna 2, D Rankin 2.
The 2008 tournament in Malaysia would see the most players go on - no fewer than ten of the fifteen. Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie the most high profile.
2008 Malaysia 10 players; Total caps 614; P Stirling 310, A Balbirnie 160, S Poynter 60, S Getkate 27, G Thompson 25, J Shannon 19, J Hall 8, G McKenna 2, A Britton 2, C Dougherty 1
Nine players featured in the 2010 squad, with George Dockrell making his first appearance. Indeed he would leave the competition early missing the Plate final against Bangladesh to go to play for the senior ranks in Sri Lanka. Later that year he would play in the T20 World Cup against West Indies and England. The NW duo of Craig Young and Stuart Thompson would also be regulars in senior squads.
2010 NZ 9 players: Total caps 989; P Stirling 310, G Dockrell 242, A Balbirnie 160, C Young 84, S Thompson 83, S Poynter 60, S Getkate 27, J Shannon 19, E Richardson 4
George Dockrell skippered the 2012 squad in Australia, with Andy McBrine and Barry McCarthy among seven players capped, including Tyrone Kane who played in Ireland's maiden Test.
2012 Australia 7 players; Total caps 479; G Dockrell 242, A McBrine 96, B McCarthy 54, P Chase 43, S Getkate 27, T Kane 10, G McCarter 7
Ireland missed out in 2014, and only played at the 2016 tournament after the withdrawal of Australia on security grounds. Five players were capped, with Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector and Josh Little all closing in on the half century mark of caps.
2016 Bangladesh 5 players: Total caps 137; L Tucker 45, H Tector 42, J Little 41, B White 6, W McClintock 3.
Harry Tector and Josh Little were back in 2018, and the only other player captained from that squad to date is Rush keeper/batsman Neil Rock.
2018 NZ 3 players; Total caps 91; H Tector 42, J Little 41, N Rock 8.
In total 44 players who appeared in Under 19 World Cups went on to play for Ireland, with three (Joyce, Rankin, Morgan) also playing for England.
Jamie Grassi would also play international cricket for Italy.
Only 11 out of the players capped since 200 did not play in an Under 19 World Cup, with the most recent being James McCollum, Mark Adair plus cousins David and Gareth Delany.
It will be interesting to see how the class of 2022 compares to their predecessors. Let us hope there are plenty of graduates.
Cap numbers correct as of 31/12/2021. Thanks to Ger Siggins for his help in compiling this article.