The 2024 Australian under 19s team travelled to South Africa in search of glory — and with a grand final win over India, they achieved just that.

Now, almost two years on, a host of players from that triumphant team have moved forward in their careers, and eight of them have signed with BBL franchises.

So, here, foxsports.com.au takes a look back at Australia’s last World Cup winning team, and where they are now!

The only place to stream every match of the 2025/26 KFC BBL LIVE is on FOX CRICKET, available on Kayo Sports. | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

ADELAIDE STRIKERS

Tom Straker

Tom Straker was contracted with the Heat last season, but didn’t manage to make his BBL debut — which could come this year with the Strikers. He was announced as an Adelaide player on December 1, completing their squad in the midst of an impressive domestic campaign from the 20-year-old seamer. In the World Cup, he took 6-24 in the semi final and was named man of the match. In his nine First Class games, Straker has taken 18 wickets at an average of 42.66 but his economy of 3.19 has been solid. His List A record is slightly healthier, having nabbed 10 wickets in seven games with best figures of 3/54 and an average of 33.9. Straker has become a regular for his state and his ability to swing the ball late has been a hallmark of his game thus far, and it looks like he could forge a strong fast bowling partnership with the man we are about to mention below. As for the BBL, it remains to be seen if he will feature for the Strikers, who have a strong bowling cartel that includes overseas trio Jamie Overton, Hassan Ali and Luke Wood as well as Jordan Buckingham, Liam Scott and Henry Thornton.

Tom Straker during an ICC U19 Men’s World Cup 2024 warm up match between Australia and Bangladesh at TUT Oval on January 17, 2024 in Pretoria, South Africa (Photo by Lefty Shivambu via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

BRISBANE HEAT

Callum Vidler

No bowler took more wickets for Australia at the 2024 Under 19s World Cup than Callum Vidler, with the right-arm speedster claiming 14 victims at a crude average of just 11.71. The highly-touted Queensland quick is in his second year on a contract with the Heat, though unfortunately it looks highly unlikely at this stage he’ll be able to impact. Scans in September revealed a partial fracture in the 20-year-old’s L3 vertebrae, which have so far sidelined him all domestic season for the Bulls. Vidler has taken 18 wickets from just three ODD’s and two first-class matches, and proved a handful in last season’s Sheffield Shield final against South Australia, where he took four poles in the first innings. He is yet to be officially ruled out by the Heat for the tournament, unlike teammate Spencer Johnson, though there is no expectation he will play a role in their home-and-away season at the absolute least.

Vidler celebrates the wicket of Arshin Kulkarni of India during the ICC U19 Men’s World Cup Final for Australia at Willowmoore Park on February 11, 2024 in Benoni, South Africa (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)Source: Getty Images

Hugh Weibgen

The Australian Under 19s captain has had a glistening start to his professional career, which is unsurprising given his showing throughout the 2024 tournament that saw him peel off 320 runs at an average of 50.66 and a high score of 120 against England. His Big Bash debut actually came 12 months after his trophy in South Africa for the Sydney Thunder, where he was at the crease for a last-ball victory over the Perth Scorchers in Perth. Weibgen finished with nine not out off six balls, including a six that helped shape the game in their favour alongside Sherfane Rutherford’s heroics. While his BBL success hasn’t been huge since, his Queensland form has been commendable for a man just 20 years of age, particularly in the 50-over format where he already has a matchwinning hundred next to his name. A move up north to home came via the draft this off-season, and will see him suit up in new kit for BBL|15.

Hugh Weibgen in his former Sydney Thunder colours celebrates taking a catch during the BBL ‘The Challenger’ match against the Sydney Sixers at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 24, 2025 in Sydney, Australia (Photo by Mark Kolbe Photography/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

HOBART HURRICANES

Nil.

MELBOURNE RENEGADES

Harry Dixon

The 20-year-old left-hander has long drawn comparisons with Australian great David Warner, with a knack of picking up length better than most in Australia’s professional cricket circles. Traditionally an opener, the St Kilda product dominated for Australia’s Under 19 side long before their World Cup victory, with scores of 167 and 148 against England’s equivalent side. He ended up Australia’s highest run-scorer for the global tournament, hitting 309 runs at a tick over 44. Dixon has since played three matches for the Renegades in the middle order last year, and has hit three half-centuries for Victoria through 2025. His strength with the bat is very much punishing balls back of a length, and plays a hard-hitting cover drive.

Dixon receives his maiden Melbourne Renegades cap prior to their BBL match against the Melbourne Stars at Marvel Stadium, on January 12, 2025 (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Ollie Peake (reserve)

Initially a reserve for Australia’s Under 19s World Cup campaign last year, the highly-touted Geelong product was called up after their opening match as an injury replacement for Corey Wasley at just 17 years of age. His 46 not out in the tournament’s final against India proved critical, showing maturity well beyond his years in Australia’s 16 overs with the bat. Two years on, he is set to captain the side in Namibia and Zimbabwe as the only player left eligible to defend their title. Peake has since represented not only the Renegades, but also Australia A and Victoria and. A middle-order batter, the 19-year-old is expected to feature for Cameron White’s side before jetting off to Africa for his second Under 19s World Cup. Peake is very much capable of scoring in all 360 degrees of the ground, and is also an excellent asset in the field for the Renegades.

Peake flicks one off his pads for the Melbourne Renegades against the Brisbane Heat at Marvel Stadium, on January 18, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

MELBOURNE STARS

Nil.

PERTH SCORCHERS

Mahli Beardman

As the terrorising Western Australia quick told foxsports.com.au’s Nic Savage, he isn’t far off breaking the 150km/h barrier. It would have made him a nightmare prospect for those at the 2024 Under 19s World Cup to face, particularly while bowling at the other end of then-partner-in-crime Callum Vidler. Since his 10 wickets an average of 10.50 in the tournament, Beardman has gone on to be called up to both Australia’s senior ODI and T20I squads on separate occasions. While he ultimately hasn’t played at the top level, he has proven himself menacing in the white-ball format at domestic level. In his second and most recent Big Bash game for the Scorchers, Beardman tore through the Adelaide Strikers to take 3/17 at Optus Stadium. He has taken at least two wickets in each of his last six professional matches, including figures of 4/46 against South Australia in February. Given Perth’s depleted bowling stocks to begin BBL|15, expect Beardman to be front and centre of their new ball plans.

Beardman prepares to bowl during the BBL match between Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers at ENGIE Stadium, on January 13, 2025, in Sydney, Australia (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

SYDNEY SIXERS

Nil.

SYDNEY THUNDER

Sam Konstas

Easily Australia’s most high-profile player to come through their Under 19s World Cup side to date, Sam Konstas had an in-between tournament. A swashbuckling 108 against the West Indies in a rain-affected group match was his highlight, however he failed to trouble the scorers in the final. Inside 12 months of the tournament, the right-hander was representing the country’s senior side on Boxing Day, where he made his famous 60 on debut against a potent Indian attack at the MCG. While he’s yet to find consistency at the top level in his five Tests, Konstas did look a handful for opposition BBL bowlers last summer in the T20 format, hitting two fifties from five matches in the lime green. The 20-year-old looked primed for an opening role alongside David Warner this summer; the perfect mentor to help him get the best out of himself in the shortest format.

Sam Konstas of the Thunder takes the field to bat during the BBL match between Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena, on January 10, 2025, in Hobart, Australia (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Aidan O’Connor

Aidan O’Connor is considered one of Tasmania’s most talented players. The 19-year-old was handed a two-year contract by the Thunder, having gone on to feature in a variety of teams since the World Cup victory, although he did not feature in the final against India. Since that tournament, O’Connor has played for the Prime Minister’s XI and his state in both the One Day Cup and Sheffield Shield competitions. On debut in the red ball format, he scored a solid 53 from 92 balls, facing the likes of Fergus O’Neill, Peter Siddle, Sam Elliott and Will Sutherland who boast an impressive seam attack. O’Connor topscored in that contest but has since struggled to find wickets and runs for his state. Regardless, it’s an impressive resume O’Connor has put together already at such a young age, and he could add to it with a BBL debut this season. Whether that comes remains to be seen, but the fact the Sydney team in green handed him a two-year contract suggests they rate him highly.

Aidan O’Connor of the PM’s XI is pictured with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before Day 1 of the tour match between Prime Minister’s XI and India at Manuka Oval on November 30, 2024 in Canberra, Australia (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Uncontracted U19s players

Lachlan Aitken

Lachlan Aitken has previously featured for Queensland’s 2nd Xi team, but the wicketkeeper batsmen has had limited opportunities so far this season. He scored only nine in a trial against Tasmania earlier this season and didn’t manage a score over eight in the KFC T20 Max competition, turning out for the Gold Coast. 60 has been his highest score this season and he will be desperate to find some form to return to the Queensland set-up.

Charlie Anderson

Charlie Anderson is one of Australia’s best emerging quicks and as such has been handed a host of strong opportunities. The 20-year-old has continued to ply his trade for Northern Districts in the NSW Premier Cricket competition, but has also feature in the last months for the Cricket Australia XI and the Prime Minister’s XI. He took three wickets in the second wickets against the England Lions in Perth and was the pick of a bowling attack that included Jhye Richardson and Cameron McClure. Anderson hits a great length and also took 3/37 on one day debut against Victoria.

McSweeney’s double ton & Konstas is back | 16:45

Harkirat Bajwa

The former Melbourne product’s game time was limited in the tournament, playing just twice against Zimbabwe and the West Indies respectively. That being said, Bajwa made the most of his opportunity, taking 4/15 against the Chevrons to wipe through the tail end of their batting order. He also made a Second XI appearance for Victoria earlier this month, taking three wickets across the two innings at a respectable economy.

Tom Campbell

Campbell has continued to ply his trade in Queensland, playing for Western Suburbs and the state’s second XI team. This season, he had a solid T20 Max campaign and had consistent scores in the 20s, 30s and 40s and also belted a 50 in one of his two second XI appearances. The 21-year-old will be hoping for further state opportunities in the future, but has struggled for runs so far in Queensland Premier Cricket.

Ryan Hicks

Arguably one of the most successful of this crop, Ryan Hicks has played four First Class games to date since making his debut in late October. The talented wicketkeeper batsmen scored one fifty in his seven innings, tallying 137 runs at an average of 19.57. He has looked up to the standard and is expected to only improve, potentially jumping ahead of Matthew Gilkes in NSW’s wicketkeeper rankings. This season, he has also tallied two second Xi centuries against South Australia and Queensland is a player on the rise.

Devine & Villani open up on WBBL final | 01:45

Rafael MacMillan

MacMillan made the move to Tasmania after under World Cup victory, signing a two-year rookie deal and he’s currently in the final season of that contract. The handy off-spinner took three wickets in a trial against Queensland earlier this year and made his first class debut in February, taking 1/32 against Victoria before he played two further List A games.

Harjas Singh

The Western Suburbs product stamped his mark on the world of cricket when he belted a mammoth 141-ball 314 in a one day match in NSW Premier Cricket. It was the third-highest individual score in NSW Premier first-grade history and included a whopping 35 sixes. The swashbuckling batter hasn’t slowed down and is currently comfortably leading Sydney’s run tally with a ridiculous 843 runs at an average of 120.43. He has been unable to capitalise on his second XI appearances, scoring 11, 2, 0, 33, 10, 1 and 16.

Non-travelling reserve players from tour

Xander Buxton, Cameron Frendo, Cody Reynolds