Aussies in cruise control as Jake Fraser-McGurk makes low-key arrival at Twenty20 World Cup

Australia has lived dangerously in recent World Cup campaigns. BEN HORNE unpacks why this tournament has been different and what it means for the rest of the event.

“The Rooster” has arrived at the Twenty20 World Cup, just as Australia starts to crow in the Caribbean.

Young gun Jake Fraser-McGurk has joined the Australian camp before the team’s next clash against Namibia on Wednesday morning (AEST) and will open his shoulders at training on Tuesday in Antigua.

A few weeks ago, critics were tipping phenomenon Fraser-McGurk (nicknamed because the noise roosters make sounds like his surname) to cast an ominous shadow over the selected batsmen in his role as reserve.

The opposite has happened.

David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have put the cockerel back in his coop to completely justify the faith selectors put in their experience, even with the next big thing knocking down the door.

Entertaining and insightful interview with Jake Fraser-McGurk from @adampeacock3 on The Willow Talk podcast. Great character to match the talent @codecricketauhttps://t.co/VAodEiWQGf

— Ben Horne (@BenHorne8) May 6, 2024

Invariably at this point of a World Cup, Australia has been reaching for a seatbelt and oxygen mask and bracing for turbulence.

Do-or-die cricket has pushed Australia to its limits but ultimately brought out the best in the side.

But highlighted by Fraser-McGurk’s low-key arrival in the Caribbean, Australia’s pursuit of a T20 World Cup to accompany its ODI and Test World Cups in the trophy cabinet has entered uncharted territory.

That is: The Aussies can press cruise control for a minute in this T20 World Cup – although they can’t quite bring themselves to believe it.

“Something will hit the fan,” Head said as the team flew to Antigua. “It can’t all go this well.”

In October last year, Head was still in Adelaide desperately trying to recover from his broken hand when Australia was in dire straits in India and one more loss away from being bounced out of the 50-over World Cup before he even arrived.

The Aussies got down and dirty, rolled their sleeves up, survived some heart-stopping moments and surged at the right time to win the tournament.

Australia took the hard road to last year’s ODI World Cup triumph. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

It was backs to the wall again in the 2021 T20 World Cup and Australia weathered the storm to be crowned champion.

What happens when you have already hit your straps?

The 36-run dismantling of England in Barbados on Saturday has given Australia the luxury of knowing that the heat is off for the next two group games against Namibia and Scotland.

It is a different mindset for Australia but one that has come at a good time for players who have mostly come straight from a gruelling Indian Premier League season.

Selectors can, and almost certainly will, rest spearhead Mitchell Starc in one of the next two matches.

And by going 2-0 up, Australia has earned an invaluable opportunity to blood squad members Ashton Agar, Cameron Green and Josh Inglis against Namibia and Scotland so they will be ready to go if called into the best XI at the business end of the tournament.

Head is confident Australia can adjust well to not having to scratch and claw for every inch for a change, yet still peak when it matters in the Super 8s next week.

“I think this group is still trying to work towards hitting our straps,” Head said.

“We’re playing well. (Beating England) was an important game in the way of that structure (to qualify for the Super 8s).

“The mindset is we’re not winning in this situation at this stage.

“We want to do the right things and start playing well and get ourselves in that Super 8 and make sure we hit our straps at the right time.”

Originally published as Aussies in cruise control as Jake Fraser-McGurk makes low-key arrival at Twenty20 World Cup