Preview: Australia to earn Super Round chance, Cuba look for first win

World No. 15 Australia and No. 9 Cuba will open the Taipei Tianmu Stadium double-header, the first in the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS group B.
A win would make Australia (1-1) a serious contender for a Super Round spot. Cuba has yet to win a game.

The Aussie will hand the ball to Tim Atherton. The 35-year-old right-hander led Australia over the United States in the WBSC Premier12 2019 and is the modern-era strikeout leader in the Australian Baseball League (ABL). He reached the Triple-A level in the US and represented Australia in the World Baseball Classic in 2013 and 2017. Atherton is a WBSC Athletes' Commission member.

Dario Sarduy is the youngest player on the Premier12 rosters. He celebrated his 19th birthday on November 12.
The left-hander made his debut in Cuba's Serie Nacional. He started eight games for the Villa Clara Naranjas and posted a 1-3 record. He signed a development contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB):

Cuba and Australia last played in the World Baseball Classic 2023 quarterfinals. Cuba won, 4-3, and advanced to the semifinals.
Despite Australia earning a Super Round spot, Cuba won the head-to-head in the Premier12 2019 Opening Round, 3-2.
Australia's last international win against Cuba was a 3-0 success in the U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017 Super Round.