Australia relied on experience rather than youth to beat up on England in the Ashes this summer and that philosophy may have to continue for a while after the national Under-19 team lost to Afghanistan.
The war-torn country, which doesn't even have Test-playing status, is now locked in a tense battle with Australia and Bangladesh for a top-two finish in Pool B of the Under-19 World Cup in order to advance to the quarter-finals.
Coach Graeme Hick's Australia (1-1) will play Bangladesh (2-0) on Wednesday. Australia need victory and a strong run-rate to hope to qualify for the next stage.
"It's a disappointing game for us today," Zimbabwe-born Hick said, showing a flair for understatement.
"We've got to go out and beat Bangladesh and even then, it's down to run-rate.
"Afghanistan played very well from the start.
"Their batsmen put our bowlers under a lot of pressure and we didn't respond very well."
New-ball bowler Billy Stanlake took 1-11 off four overs and wasn't considered fit enough to bowl his full allotment of 10 overs.
"In terms of the bowling, we've got a couple of guys who've brought injuries into this competition," Hick said.
"So there's only a certain amount of workload they can do building into the next part of the tournament.
"That prompted a couple of selections. We wanted everyone to have a game in the tournament.
"We still felt with the squad we've got, that we had the side (to beat Afghanistan)."
Chasing 254 to win, Australia were bowled out for 217.
Brisbane Heat BBL T20 batsman Ben McDermott, son of ex-Test paceman Craig McDermott, made a duck at No.3 against Afghanistan.
Fellow Queenslander James Bazley top-scored with an unbeaten 54 after taking 3-69.
NSW teenager Jake Doran, who played against England in a tour match in Alice Springs in November, made ۴۵.
Afghanistan (1-1) qualified for the tournament by winning the Asian Cricket Council's U19 Elite Cup.
Captain Nasir Jamal's side will clash with winless Namibia on Wednesday, making Australia's game against Bangladesh a virtual knock-out match.
"I don't think many people expected us to defeat Australia but we did it and we did it convincingly,' Jamal said.
"We hope the people at home are enjoying the victory as much as we are.
"We play for our country and our people and we love to make them happy and proud."
The war-torn country, which doesn't even have Test-playing status, is now locked in a tense battle with Australia and Bangladesh for a top-two finish in Pool B of the Under-19 World Cup in order to advance to the quarter-finals.
Coach Graeme Hick's Australia (1-1) will play Bangladesh (2-0) on Wednesday. Australia need victory and a strong run-rate to hope to qualify for the next stage.
"It's a disappointing game for us today," Zimbabwe-born Hick said, showing a flair for understatement.
"We've got to go out and beat Bangladesh and even then, it's down to run-rate.
"Afghanistan played very well from the start.
"Their batsmen put our bowlers under a lot of pressure and we didn't respond very well."
New-ball bowler Billy Stanlake took 1-11 off four overs and wasn't considered fit enough to bowl his full allotment of 10 overs.
"In terms of the bowling, we've got a couple of guys who've brought injuries into this competition," Hick said.
"So there's only a certain amount of workload they can do building into the next part of the tournament.
"That prompted a couple of selections. We wanted everyone to have a game in the tournament.
"We still felt with the squad we've got, that we had the side (to beat Afghanistan)."
Chasing 254 to win, Australia were bowled out for 217.
Brisbane Heat BBL T20 batsman Ben McDermott, son of ex-Test paceman Craig McDermott, made a duck at No.3 against Afghanistan.
Fellow Queenslander James Bazley top-scored with an unbeaten 54 after taking 3-69.
NSW teenager Jake Doran, who played against England in a tour match in Alice Springs in November, made ۴۵.
Afghanistan (1-1) qualified for the tournament by winning the Asian Cricket Council's U19 Elite Cup.
Captain Nasir Jamal's side will clash with winless Namibia on Wednesday, making Australia's game against Bangladesh a virtual knock-out match.
"I don't think many people expected us to defeat Australia but we did it and we did it convincingly,' Jamal said.
"We hope the people at home are enjoying the victory as much as we are.
"We play for our country and our people and we love to make them happy and proud."
Source : Afghan Voice Agency (AVA), International Service
