Tom Straker: All you need to know about Australia U19 star who registered the best ever bowling figures in the ICC U19 World Cup history

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ICC U19 World Cup 2024: Every legend was once a beginner and the journey to become the greatest is possible only by developing technical skills, physical fitness, mental strength and picking up lessons on the go.

Meanwhile, Australia’s young pace bowling sensation Tom Straker has left a long-lasting impression by letting the ball do the talking in the semi-final of the ICC U19 World Cup 2024.

The 18-year-old bright prospect grabbed the headlines after he gave young Pakistani batters a run for their money. With subtle bowling variations of line and length, the right-arm pacer accounted for six dismissals giving away just 24 runs in 9.5 overs.

Rightly so, he etched his name into record books by shattering Kagiso Rabada’s 10-year-old record of best bowling figures (6/25) in a U19 World Cup semi-final or final. He combined his game with a mix of short and fuller deliveries and was bang on target in Willowmoore Park.

His spectacular bowling performance helped the team restrict Pakistan U19 to 179. In reply, the young Australian team had hiccups in the run-chase but somehow managed to pull off the ropes from the jaws of defeat as they won by 1 wicket. Tom Straker was adjudged the Player of the Match for his match-winning spell.

ICC U19 World Cup 2024: Everything you need to know about young Australia star Tom Straker

For the record, Tom Straker was born on March 19, 2005 in Australia. The young lad represented the national team at the youth level. Notably, he played across all three formats, marking his presence in 7 ODIs, 1 Test and 1 T20I.

He took part in a solitary Test match against the English U-19 squad in January 2023, where he went on to register bowling figures of 3/58 and 1/48 in the first and second innings. In the subsequent month of the same year, he made his debut in Youth One Day Internationals against the England U-19 team.

He accounted for three dismissals in two games as he dotted with figures of 2/32 and 1/9. Besides that, he made his debut in Youth T20 Internationals against England U-19, where he registered 2/35 in 4 overs. The teenager took his bowling to the next level by registering the third-best bowling figures in the U19 World Cup 2024. He has taken a total of 12 wickets in five appearances in the ongoing tournament.

Australia have always been a nation that has produced top-quality bowlers, who have made telling impacts at the international level, especially in the biggest events such as the ICC World Cups, Ashes and other major ICC tournaments.

If Tom Straker is trained and nurtured well, he is destined for greatness. For sure, the national selectors will keep an eye on him in the hope of unlocking the hidden gem inside him, as he has the flair and aptitude to shine at the highest level.