Tom Straker who has been named as Monster Truck has warned the Indian side ahead of the U-19 World Cup 2024 finals which is set to take place on Sunday.
Tom Straker warns India ahead of U-19 WC 2024 Finals
Australia had a successful campaign during the U-19 World Cup 2024 and is set to play its final match against India at Benoni, South Africa. Australia features in the final of the U-19 category after 6 years.
They had entered the finals after defeating Pakistan in one wicket difference in the 2nd semifinals of the tournament.
On this occasion, Tom Straker who was named the Player of the Match in the semifinals said, “Everyone was still so excited. Then we were like ‘We’ve had our fun, but it has to stop now’. We’ve still got a grand final to win.
“We had a quick conversation about it and just said, ‘We didn’t come here to win the semi-final, we came here to win the final’.”
Tom Straker was the key player who had a bowling figure of 6/24 against Pakistan who surpassed the records of Kagiso Rabada’s 6-25 in the category during the year 2014.
“We had a TV in our viewing area and the commentators were talking about it, all the boys were loving it, but I was like ‘it’s a good to record to have’ but I wasn’t too fussed about it,” said Straker. “It’s a pretty proud moment, but in the scheme of things it doesn’t really matter.”
“We’re all just looking at each other like, ‘oh no’,” Starker said. “But Vidler’s batting is not the worst for a No.11, so we had faith, and Raf’s batted well for us, he’s saved the day a before, so we were confident.
“We hit the winning runs and everyone just erupted. We have a pretty good bowling attack. We’ve scared a few teams during this tournament and hopefully we do the same to India in the final,” he said.
“The pitch here is a bit bouncy too. As you’ve seen throughout the tournament, we use our bouncers a lot so that will be part of our game plan.
“All the boys here, especially Mahli and Vidler, love a bumper … we’re Australian fast bowlers, of course we love a bumper, so I’m sure there will be plenty of those.”
“When the draw came out, we had a quick look at it and thought if everything goes to plan, hopefully we’re in the final and we were always hoping it would be India in the final (as well),” said Straker.
“Obviously their batting has been a pretty big part of their success and so has our bowling so it should be a good match-up.”
“I’ve seen an ICC post about it and I’ve had a lot of people messaging me about it,” said Straker.
Australia and India will be playing their finals on February 11, 2024, at Sahara Park Willowmoore Cricket Stadium.
