This was published 6 months ago
Fraser-McGurk, Short eye World Cup warm-up games amid IPL crunch
By Malcolm Conn and Daniel Brettig
Young IPL sensation Jake Fraser-McGurk and Big Bash League dominator Matt Short will each have the chance to showcase their skills in a pair of World Cup warm-up games as part of a threadbare Australian squad that may struggle to field 11 players.
Fraser-McGurk was named as a reserve for Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup squad as cover for David Warner, who has bone bruising in his left hand.
But with Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell all still part of the Indian Premier League finals, they will not reach the national squad until after the warm-up games are due to start. Any niggles among the other 12 players arriving in Trinidad later this week may even force support staff to do some fielding.
Australia’s preparation will benefit from the games against Namibia (May 29) and the West Indies (May 31), which are broadcast as part of the package of cup matches sold by the International Cricket Council.
But the complexities of commuting to the Caribbean are underlined by how New Zealand requested the cancellation of their own warm-up games after a recent series against Pakistan.
Captain Mitch Marsh is set to play, but head coach Andrew McDonald said it was unclear when he would be able to bowl after a slower-than-expected recovery from a hamstring strain.
“It’s been a little bit slower than we would have liked,” McDonald told SEN Radio. “We felt it was going to be a straight-up three to four-week hamstring, it probably hasn’t progressed that way, so he’s a little bit behind where we’d like him with the ball.
“But he’ll take part in the practice games in Trinidad against Namibia and the West Indies as a batter and a captain, but we’ll slow play the bowling. We’ve got to take care of the captain and [we’re] probably not willing to risk the bowling too early.”
In his last international campaign for Australia, Warner goes into next month’s tournament in the West Indies and USA with a modest IPL behind him.
The veteran left-hander scored 168 runs in eight matches for Ricky Ponting’s Delhi Capitals at an average of 21 and a strike rate of 34 before being ruled out for the remainder of the tournament with injury.
This contrasts with Fraser-McGurk, who had the best strike rate in the IPL of any regular batsman – 234.
The 22-year-old was given his chance with the Capitals after Marsh was sent home after four matches with a hamstring injury. Fraser-McGurk scored 330 runs in nine matches at an average of 37 with four half-centuries.
Jake Fraser-McGurk has been on fire with the bat for Delhi Capitals in the IPL.Credit: AP
The only Australians who managed more runs in the IPL were the explosive Head, who finished as the tournament’s third-highest run scorer with 533 at 48 and a strike rate of 201, and Marcus Stoinis, who made 388 at 32 with a strike rate of 148.
Head was a major reason why Sunrisers Hyderabad, captained by Cummins, finished second in the IPL and are playing in the finals. Cummins was Australia’s leading bowler in India with 15 wickets at an average of 32 and economy rate of nine.
Matthew Wade kept his place in the squad despite managing just two games for the Gujarat Titans and playing just one innings for four runs. He will be under pressure from Josh Inglis, who replaced Alex Carey in Australia’s 50-over side last year during the World Cup.
Wade keeps out dual BBL Player of the Year Short, who has been chosen as Australia’s second reserve player.
Australia’s squad will have a staggered arrival in the West Indies, giving some who have played in the IPL time at home before joining their teammates.
“As the tournament proceeds, the short turnaround between fixtures makes it challenging to get players in at short notice in the event of injury,” chair of selectors George Bailey said. “Matt provides the squad with an all-round skill set option, while Jake provides further batting cover.
“Both players have exciting talents that can add to the squad if needed. If not, the experience will still be valuable in their respective development journeys at international level.”
Australia’s T20 World Cup squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Travelling reserves: Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk.
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