John James, the Malayali muscle in Australia's Under-19 Cricket World Cup squad

When the BCCI announced the India squad for the U-19 Cricket World Cup, it packed two pleasant surprises for Kerala: Aaron George and Mohamed Enaan. But a few weeks before that, Cricket Australia had handed Malayalis a moment of pride, with the inclusion of John James. The 18-year-old, born to Wayanad native Jomesh John and Punalur native Smitha Thomas, will represent Australia at the World Cup, to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6.

James was born in Kharagpur, West Bengal, and brought up in Sydney, as his parents migrated to Australia shortly after his birth. James credited his parents for his cricketing development, which has got him to the world stage. "I was really thrilled when I got the call," James said. "It (selection) is the result of my hardwork and that of my parents. My parents took me to training amid their tight schedules and often had to get off from work to do that. My younger brother also accompanied me many times. I am really relieved now," James said.

James has fond memories of Kerala, though he grew up as an Aussie. "We visit the state (Kerala) every vacation. My grandparents and relatives are back home. I love the food in Kerala—the snacks, and especially my grandmother’s pork curry," James said. The strongly-built all-rounder is a right-hand batter and a right-arm medium pacer who represents the New South Wales (NSW) state team.

He has been part of the NSW Academy from a young age, and honed his skills through the age groups. One of his memorable performances came against India U-19 in a home series in September. Batting at No 8 in the first ODI, he helped Australia post a respectable total of 225, scoring an unbeaten 77 off just 68 balls. Although India won that match in Brisbane, James' performance put him firmly in the spotlight and showcased his ability to control the middle overs under pressure.

"I like batting in the middle order, and I'm most comfortable at No 5, 6 or 7. But that doesn't really matter, I can bat anywhere," James said. "When it comes to bowling, I can bowl in all phases of the game, the new ball, the middle overs or at the death, wherever the captain wants me." He considers himself a naturally aggressive player who enjoys anchoring an innings and playing match-winning knocks. "I look to hit boundaries off loose balls, but I also like to stay in the crease and bat for long periods," James said.

He began playing cricket at nine, with the spark provided by a friend, Ryden Gomas. "He taught me how to play, and we used to practise and play together." Jomesh John and Smitha Thomas noticed the talent in their kid. "My dad used to take me for practice when I was young. Though he wasn't interested in cricket and was himself a football and basketball player, he always stood by my side. He used to bowl to me in the nets. I also had a coach, George Miller, who was my main coach. It was my parents who took me to practices and the expert guidance helped me," James added.

He joined the Hornsby District Cricket Club and went on to play representative district cricket, producing notable performances. James also featured in the Green Shield Cricket tournament, a premier Under-16 junior competition, held mainly in NSW during the summer months and featuring top young talent from Sydney's major district clubs. His performances there eventually earned him selection to the NSW cricket team.

The fan of England captain Ben Stokes aims to deliver consistent performances at the World Cup. "Consistency is the key if you want to perform at higher levels. In the past, you may have bad innings or poor performances, but that's cricket. You have to focus on the future and keep moving ahead," James said.

The Australian side, also featuring India-born Aryan Sharma, face the mammoth task of defending the title they won in 2024. Competition for the crown has become intense, with India defeating Australia 3–0 in their most recent home series. Should Australia and India meet during the World Cup, it would also go down as a unique clash between Malayalis.