Australian T20 World Cup squad: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith set to miss out in major shocks

Australian selectors have made some stunning omissions from their 15-man T20 World Cup squad, with the rising star who has taken the IPL by storm missing out. Latest squad details inside.

Australian selectors are set to bypass Indian Premier League sensation Jake Fraser-McGurk for their 15-man Twenty20 World Cup squad when it is unveiled later this week.

Despite taking the cricketing world by storm with his exploits for the Delhi Capitals in recent weeks, it’s understood the 22-year-old will miss the cut for June’s tournament in the West Indies and US.

Steve Smith, the best batter of his generation is also set to be omitted, while two-time Big Bash League player of the year Matt Short also missed out.

It will mark the first time Smith has been left out from a major tournament or series for which he’s been available since cementing himself as a superstar of the game more than a decade ago.

Having never played a T20 international and with just two one-dayers for Australia to his name, Fraser-McGurk would have needed to come from the clouds to make the squad.

Steve Smith has missed out on World Cup selection for the first time in more than a decade. Picture: Patrick Hamilton/AFP

However his stunning entrance into the world’s richest league - in which he has made three half-centuries in five matches including a jaw-dropping 84 from 27 balls on Saturday night against a Mumbai Indians attack featuring pace ace Jasprit Bumrah - had accelerated the public push towards his inclusion, with former Test skipper Tim Paine and ex-national selector Mark Waugh among those who had called for him to be named in the squad.

But the panel of George Bailey, Tony Dodemaide and national coach Andrew McDonald will remain loyal to the group of players they had been priming for a tilt at an unprecedented triple crown of global men’s titles, with Australia having won the World Test Championship final and one-day World Cup last year.

Despite a patchy Indian Premier League campaign for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Cameron Green appears increasingly likely to form part of the squad.

Despite his blistering form, Jake Fraser-McGurk has also missed out on selection. Picture: Money Sharma/AFP

Spare spinner Ashton Agar and paceman Nathan Ellis are also firming to be included along with twin wicketkeeping options Matthew Wade and Josh Inglis.

The Aussies could yet take a spare player as a travelling reserve.

Australia is pooled with England alongside associate trio Oman, Namibia and Scotland. Given the top two sides in each group progress to the next stage, it would take an enormous upset for Australia to miss the final eight.

Smith’s stature in T20 cricket may have faded over recent years, but it is still a significant decision not to select one of the most heavy-duty run-scorers to ever play the game for a tournament that, should Australia win, will secure them a historic triple crown of international trophies.

Smith was part of Australia’s most recent Twenty20 squad in New Zealand back in February and had a shot at making the side as an opener, but ultimately has been hurt by not getting the chance to push his case further with a contract in the IPL, and now has too many players in front of him to find a place in the 15-man squad.

Expected Australian squad:

David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (capt), Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Ashton Agar, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis

Originally published as Australian T20 World Cup squad: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith set to miss out in major shocks