World No. 2 and reigning World Champions Australia announced today a renovated roster to begin their WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup defence. Head coach Laing Harrow named 11 players ahead of the Oceania Qualifier, slated for 9 to 11 November in American Samoa. The tournament will feature the host team and New Zealand in a double round robin tournament with two available spots for the Group Stage in 2024.
“I’m looking forward to bringing a new group of players in the Steelers fold through this competition. It gives a great opportunity to bring through a new group of players who will be keen to contest selection for the World Cup group stage next year” said Harrow.
The Oceania Qualifier will consist of a double round-robin format, with the teams playing six games in three days. The top two teams at the conclusion of the double round-robin will progress to the WBSC World Cup Group Stage in 2024.
Roster
- Mathew Beckett
- Jarrod Bradbury
- Jack Burt
- Mark Harris
- Matt Harrow
- Nathan Lynch
- Brendon O'Byrne
- James Purcell
- Cody Smith
- Matt Wickham
- Peter Wards
Currently, Australia holds two of three men’s softball world titles, after winning the Men’s Softball World Cup in 2022 and the U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup earlier this year. They will aim to complete the treble at the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup, slated to be played in Hermosillo, Mexico, from 11 to 19 November.
Burt, Harrow and O’Byrne are the only three senior world champions in the roster, while the team also features three winners of the I WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup: Harrow, Lynch and Smith.
For Australia, this marks the start of a new format for Softball World Cups, which involves three stages: the upcoming Continental qualifier, the Group Stage in 2024, with top teams from the Group Stage progressing to the World Cup Finals, which will take place in 2025 in Prince Albert, Canada. Hosts and dates of the Group Stage will be announced at a later stage.
