Cullen makes World Cup debut in defeat to West Indies

By Josh Bartholomew

Upper Sixth student Blake Cullen made his U19 World Cup debut for England in a frustrating defeat to the West Indies on Monday.

Cullen, who took part in a tri-series against India and Bangladesh for the U19s last summer, took 3/25 in a warm-up match against Afghanistan last week to cement his place in the team.

Opening the bowling, Cullen was unfortunate to go wicketless with the ball – taking 0/41 – as the the U19s began their campaign with a disappointing loss, largely thanks to a handy West Indian partnership of 101 between Nyeem Young and Kevlon Anderson.

Cullen secured 7* coming in at number ten, but the young Lions fell to a 71 run defeat by the Duckworth/Lewis method. The England U19s’ tournament continues on Thursday with a crunch game against Australia, in which the winner will likely progress to the Cup quarter-final.