Who is Will Malajczuk? Australian opener who hit the fastest century in U19 World Cup history

Will Malajczuk hit fastest century in U19 World Cup. [Source - @cricketaus/x]

Australian opener Will Malajczuk announced himself to the world by smashing the fastest century in U19 World Cup history. The left-hander lit up the ongoing U19 Men’s World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia with fearless batting and record-breaking intent at the top.

In Australia’s second fixture against Japan in Windhoek, Will Malajczuk turned a routine chase into a historic outing. Chasing 202, he powered Australia home by eight wickets, scoring a breathtaking hundred off just 51 balls, featuring 5 sixes and 12 fours.

But beyond the headlines and the sixes lies a deeper story. Who is Will Malajczuk, where does he come from, and how did a simple change in role transform him into one of the most exciting batters of this World Cup?

Will Malajczuk: The Western Australia journey

Will Malajczuk is an 18-year-old Western Australia cricketer who has risen steadily through the junior ranks. A left-handed batter and handy spinner, he captained Western Australia at the U19 National Championships in 2025-26 season, scoring 199 runs at an impressive average of 39.8.

He made his Australia U19 debut against India last year, a major step in his young career captaining the side in two Youth ODIs and also in both Youth Tests, gaining valuable experience against strong opposition early on.

Away from cricket, Malajczuk also had a serious interest in Australian rules football. He faced a tough choice between the two sports last year but ultimately committed to cricket, a decision that is already paying rich rewards at the global stage.

How opening the batting changed everything for Will Malajczuk

Until this U19 World Cup, Will Malajczuk mostly batted at number three or four for both Western Australia and Australia U19. That changed during the warm-up games, when team management decided to use him as an aggressive opener in the powerplay.

The move worked instantly. Malajczuk began with 23 off 17 balls in the first warm-up game against Afghanistan, then followed it up with a stunning 85 off 47 against South Africa, full of boundaries and towering sixes. His intent gave Australia fast starts and gave an extra cushion to the middle order.

In the first game of the U19 World Cup against Ireland, he chipped in with a brisk 22 off 12 before falling, but in the second fixture against Japan, he went much further, blasting a record-breaking 51-ball century, repaying the faith his coaches showed in him.

Will Malajczuk a brutal hard-hitting star in the making

Will Malajczuk’s knock against Japan was more than just a record. It was a statement of his fearless mindset and his ability to change games from the first over, a rare quality in youth cricket.

His rapid rise has not gone unnoticed. A couple of months ago, he was given the opportunity to train alongside the senior Australian team ahead of the opening Ashes Test in Perth, an experience that underlined how highly he is rated, now delivering on the global stage, looking well ahead of his age.