Softball Australia announced their 16-man roster for the upcoming WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup, to be played in Auckland, New Zealand, from 26 November to 4 December. Australia also named their coaching staff for the event.
Adam Folkard and Nick Shailes, who were an integral part of Australia’s 2009 World Champion team, will be the most experienced players in the Aussie Steelers team, in their quest for a fifth World Cup medal.
- Callum BEASHEL
- Jack BESGROVE
- Jack BURT
- Adam FOLKARD
- Matthew HARROW
- Riley JAMES
- Julian JEMMOTT
- Marshall KRONK
- Hayden MATHEWS
- Joshua MCGOVERN
- Brendon O'BYRNE
- Scott PATTERSON
- Jay SELU *
- Nick SHAILES
- James TODHUNTER
- Joshua WHITE
The team includes four WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup debutants in Jack Besgrove, Riley James, Jack Burt and Matthew Harrow.
“The Aussie Steelers are the pinnacle of men’s Softball in Australia, and this Steelers team is littered with familiar names in the sport,” Head Coach Laing Harrow, who coached the Australia women's national team to fifth place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, said. “I’m also excited about the energy our new players will bring during the tournament. The Steelers have a proud tradition of success, I’m confident we have assembled a team that will figure in the late stages of the World Cup.”
Softball Australia also confirmed the coaching staff to join Harrow in the World Cup: Nathan Jones (Assistant Coach), David Metekingi (Assistant Coach), Adam Rindfleish (Specialist Coach /Scouting), Mike Titheradge (Team Manager), Anthony Mackie (Video Analyst), Chris Trengove (Statistician), and Bernie Simai (Physiotherapist).
Australia finished seventh in the last edition of the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup in Prague, Czech Republic in 2019 having finished on the podium in four of the previous five editions, including their inaugural world title in 2009.
* Jay Selu was added to the Aussie Steelers Team on 25 October 2022, replacing Layton Reid who has had to withdraw.
