Big Bash: Jake Fraser-McGurk labelled best young talent in Australia

He holds the world record for the fastest 50-over century and now Jake Fraser-McGurk is showing the world his rare talent in the Big Bash.

Big Bash sensation Jake Fraser McGurk’s only regrets after his blistering Thursday night innings at Marvel Stadium were that his Melbourne Renegades didn’t win and it wasn’t “a couple of days earlier” after missing out on a IPL berth in Tuesday’s auction.

Having already blasted the fastest recorded one-day 100 playing for South Australia in October, when he smashed an unfathomable 125 runs off just 38 balls with a mammoth 13 sixes, the 21-year-old entered the auction with more hope than expectation.

Fraser McGurk’s name wasn’t read out as Australia’s fast bowlers snared $10m worth of contracts, but that didn’t deter him from backing up a scintillating 24-ball innings of 48 to open the Big Bash by smashing seven sixes on Thursday night in a 23-ball innings of 55, with 46 runs in boundaries.

Jake Fraser-McGurk is something special 🌟 #BBL13pic.twitter.com/nF9rEwicyy

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 21, 2023

It earnt him big wraps from Australian legend Ricky Ponting and white-ball superstar Glenn Maxwell, who labelled Fraser-McGurk “easily the most talented young batter in the country”.

He has eyes on taking his talents to the world but for now wants to just focus on making more runs for the Renegades, who are winless after the opening three matches of the tournament.

“It’s going to feel pretty good, two greats of Australian cricket,” Fraser-McGurk said when told of the plaudits.

“I kind of wish this game was a couple of days before the IPL draft, it could have been a bit different, but who knows.

“If it happens it happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t, that’s how I am approaching things at the moment, one game at a time. I’m not looking too far ahead.”

The half-century on Thursday night was Fraser-McGurk’s first despite being in his fourth season with the Renegades, having made his one-day and Sheffield Shield debut for Victoria as a 17-year-old in 2019.

Patience from his coaches has been key, but this season confidence and commitment to an “aggressive” batting mindset are finally starting to pay dividends.

“I think it’s going out there with a lot more confidence than other years when I’ve been batting for spots and had that monkey on my shoulder,” Fraser-McGurk said.

“This year I have come out and played some free cricket and am just backing myself and committing in everything I do.

No one in Australia is better to watch then Fraser-Mcgurk. Easily the most talented young batter in the country. His potential doesn’t actually have a ceiling. #rooster 🐓

— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) December 21, 2023

“I’ve always had that aggression. I think batting with that confidence, with that aggression, is something that has come in this year. I’ve committed to a process, trusted it, and it’s come off.”

His process is a simple on too, watching the ball closely and backing his instincts.

“It’s all in the moment, watching the ball as hard as I can,” he said.

“It’s just going out there with the same process every single ball … backing my instincts and reacting to the ball.”

Fraser-McGurk also said he wouldn’t mind some improvements to the Marvel Stadium wicket, which every other batter found tough to handle being “up and down”.

“It was a good wicket for one-day cricket, but we’re playing T20,” he said.

“If we could get a bit more pace in it … we could see some scores of 200-plus.”

Fraser-McGurk will be back in action in Perth on Boxing Day when the Renegades take on the unbeaten Scorchers.

Originally published as Big Bash: Jake Fraser-McGurk labelled best young talent in Australia