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Mackenzie Harvey will lead Australia's under-19s World Cup campaign with the experience of having played under ODI captain Aaron Finch in the Big Bash.
Mackenzie Harvey will lean on the experience of playing under Aaron Finch when he captains Australia's under-19s side in this month's World Cup.
Harvey was named captain last week, before they landed in South Africa ahead of their opener next Saturday.
In doing so, he follows in the path of the likes of Tim Paine, Michael Clarke, Mitch Marsh and Moises Henriques.
Harvey is still only aged 19, but he hardly enters the tournament under coaches Chris Rogers and Ryan Harris as an inexperienced youngster.
He was part of last year's Big Bash-winning Melbourne Renegades where he played under Finch, and has for a long time been considered one of the country's best young prospects.
"Having Aaron Finch as captain of the Renegades and captain of the country is also very handy to have around, just picking his brain," Harvey told AAP.
"It would be more the on-field side of things.
"Having that experience of seeing what Finchy does in the field ... seeing what fields are set for certain batters and seeing what their strengths are.
"It's very handy to have Chris Rogers and Ryan Harris as coaches as well to also pick their brain at how they used to do it a few years ago."
Australia's under-19 squad also includes other recognisable names including Victorian Jake Fraser-McGurk, the hard-hitting Oliver Davies from NSW and Sydney Thunder-contracted spinner Tanveer Sangha.
Harvey missed the start of this year's Big Bash through a hand injury, but will have no problems taking his spot in the side to play the West Indies next weekend.
The Aussies and West Indies also have England and tournament rookies Nigeria in their group, with the top two teams to advance to the quarter-finals in late January.
Harvey's appointment comes 17 years after his uncle Ian Harvey took 4-58 in a group match against Pakistan in his only World Cup in South Africa.
"Obviously it was real helpful having my uncle play a few years ago now. I've watched highlights of him," the younger Harvey said.
"I went to a couple of his games but I was very young.
"But I have tried to make myself into my own player rather than being focused on being his nephew."
