T20 World Cup 2024: Jake Fraser-McGurk’s stunning form tipped to trigger change to Australian squad
Has the insane IPL form of wunderkind Jake Fraser-McGurk forced Australian selectors into a re-think of their World Cup squad? One former captain has a radical plan to squeeze him in.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Former Australian captain Tim Paine is calling for national selectors to fast-track wunderkind Jake Fraser-McGurk into their Twenty20 World Cup squad at the expense of a second wicketkeeper.
Fraser-McGurk, 22, has started his Indian Premier League career in scintillating fashion, blasting two half-centuries in his first three innings for the Delhi Capitals at a strike rate of 222.22.
The Victorian product, who moved to South Australia for state cricket last year, is uncapped in T20 internationals but played a couple of one-dayers for Australia in February as selectors turned their eyes to Australia’s 50-over World Cup defence in 2027.
But having impressed for the Melbourne Renegades and Dubai Capitals over the summer, Fraser-McGurk’s showings in Indian have now cannoned him into calculations for June’s T20 World Cup in the US and Caribbean.
A 15-man squad for the event won’t be finalised until next month, with selection chair George Bailey and national coach Andrew McDonald both flagging the importance of the IPL in selection considerations.
Working against Fraser-McGurk is the fact he tends to bat in the top three, an area in which Australia is well-stocked in the form of captain-elect Mitch Marsh, David Warner and Travis Head, who has himself dominated during the IPL season for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
With a squeeze on for spots in both the XI and the squad, ex-Test skipper Paine, who also played 12 T20 internationals and is an assistant coach with the Big Bash League’s Adelaide Strikers, said Fraser-McGurk would be in his preferred squad if named today.
And Paine would have West Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis missing out despite making 110 in a T20 against India last November in Visakhapatnam.
Paine has backed Strikers gun Matt Short for a spot in the squad, owing to his versatility in batting up and down the order and his ability as an off-spinner, while also naming Marcus Stoinis in his preferred combination and long-time teammate Matthew Wade to be the first-choice ‘keeper.
That meant Paine had to make a call between a second wicketkeeper and the emerging star in Fraser-McGurk.
“I just don’t think we need (a second ‘keeper),” Paine told this masthead.
“Short offers flexibility. Can cover multiple players and play multiple roles if required. So then it comes down to Inglis or JFM for me and at the moment his form is outrageous.
“His BBL was really good. Can change a game in 10 balls. Superstar with absolute x-factor. Inglis (is) stiff given his 100 in India. (But still a) long international career for him.”
Ex-gloveman Paine said the second spinner position would be between Ashton Agar and Tanveer Sangha, with the former understood to be favoured by selectors.
The Tasmanian provided a qualifier that the squad was a “work in progress as the IPL continues.”
The Capitals next face the Gujarat Titans in the early hours of Thursday morning (AEST).
Marsh has meanwhile been ruled out of the remainder of the IPL after returning to Australia after suffering a hamstring injury.
The all-rounder’s ailment paves the way for Fraser-McGurk to hold his spot in the side coached by Ricky Ponting.
“I don’t think he’ll be coming back,” Ponting said.
“There’s a certain cut off point with replacement players. Cricket Australia were keen to have him at home to start his recovery process and we sent him back as soon as we could.
“They’ve been managing his rehab for a couple of weeks now. I spoke to him the other day and
it seems it’s taken a little longer than he first thought to get over it. I don’t think the T20 World Cup would be an issue.“
Delhi (3-5) is under pressure to make the playoffs this season after a poor 2023 campaign.
More Coverage
Originally published as T20 World Cup 2024: Jake Fraser-McGurk’s stunning form tipped to trigger change to Australian squad
Koori Knockout: 600+ photos from across day three, grand finals
There were plenty of stars on show as the Koori Knockout got down to the business end of things on days three and four. Catch up on our massive 600+ photo gallery from all divisions.
Star breaks silence after fleeing country
A former tennis star has spoken out as rumours continue to swirl over why she fled to America after announcing her shock retirement.