How a bizarre Big Bash League twist kick-started an Aussie wildcard’s World Cup push

Jake Fraser-McGurk has presented an almost undeniable case for selection in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad. But none of it would’ve been possible if not for a sliding doors moment three months ago.

If not for the struggles of his Melbourne Renegades teammates, Jake Fraser-McGurk may not have had the chance to catapult himself into contention for Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup squad.

Fraser-McGurk - whose astonishing 84 from 27 balls for the Delhi Capitals on Saturday night amplified the already pulsing calls for him to be included when the Aussie squad is named this week - whisked over to the UAE in late January for a three-game stint in the ILT20 competition with Delhi’s Emirati affiliate club, the Dubai Capitals, where he played alongside David Warner.

Playing in arguably the world’s second-strongest franchise competition, Fraser-McGurk blasted 109 runs across three innings from 51 balls, outshining Warner - who had only weeks earlier retired from Test cricket.

On the back of his domestic showings for the Renegades and South Australia, Fraser-McGurk already had interest from IPL clubs, having made the shortlist for last December’s auction. But his showings in the UAE significantly bolstered the case that he was ready for the world’s richest league.

When personal issues cast doubt over the IPL involvement of England Ashes hero Harry Brook - $716,000 (AUD) December signing for Delhi - Fraser-McGurk was an appetising replacement for Ricky Ponting’s side.

Jake Fraser-McGurk has been massive in the IPL. Picture: AFP

Yet even Ponting surely could not have envisaged how successful Fraser-McGurk, 22, would have been after coming into the side mid-tournament. Through five matches, the Victorian product has 247 runs at an obscene clip of 237.50. With Mitch Marsh and Warner both injured, Fraser-McGurk has been central to turning around Delhi’s season.

Though he played two one-day internationals in February, Fraser-McGurk is uncapped in T20 cricket. As recently as a few weeks ago he did not appear to be seriously in the frame for the World Cup given Australia had a glut of other top-order options, including Warner, Marsh, Travis Head, Steve Smith and Matt Short.

But his jaw-dropping April exploits, capped by his take-down job of the world’s premier all-format paceman Jasprit Bumrah over the weekend, means it would now almost be a shock if he wasn’t selected.

Jake Fraser-McGurk has burst onto the scene. Picture: Getty Images

As former Australian selector Mark Waugh tweeted: “(Fraser-McGurk) should the first name on the sheet. Absolute certainty to be picked and open the batting in the World Cup.”

And yet the UAE opening almost didn’t arise. Such is the chockers cricket calendar, Fraser-McGurk could only squeeze in three matches for Dubai before he was needed back in Australia to play in the Sheffield Shield for SA.

Had the Renegades made a deep finals run, it is doubtful he would have been able to jet off.

But despite a breakout campaign from Fraser-McGurk, his BBL side had a stinker and was out of the running well ahead of the finals.

The other side of this coin is Short, who claimed his second straight BBL player of the year title over the season after another stellar campaign with the Adelaide Strikers.

Is there room for both Short and Fraser McGurk at the World Cup? Picture: Getty Images

The batting all-rounder looked like he might be heading to the UAE for a week or so too, understood to have had a suitor in the ILT20 and the Strikers heading towards a league stage exit after winning just one of their first six games.

But in no small part due to Short’s work at the top of the order, Adelaide bounded into the finals and made it all the way to the penultimate game of the season, losing to Brisbane.

But by the time the Strikers were eliminated, Cricket Australia wasn’t keen on him jetting off for such a small window ahead of white-ball commitments against the Windies.

There is no way of knowing how Short might have done in the UAE had he been afforded a chance like Fraser-McGurk, and what may have spawned from it.

Certainly Short’s IPL stint with Punjab last year was nowhere near as prolific as that of his former Victorian teammate this time around.

But in any case, Fraser-McGurk’s brilliance, and the return to form of Cameron Green for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has left Short vulnerable to be squeezed out of the World Cup squad despite his consistency in the BBL.

Former Test skipper Tim Paine said that a second wicketkeeper should make way before Short, while spare paceman Nathan Ellis and backup spinner Ashton Agar are also options to go if selectors feel they must pitchfork Fraser-McGurk into the 15 for June’s tournament.

The squad is one thing, the next question is whether Fraser-McGurk can be left out of the XI. Australian great Matthew Hayden told Star Sports’ Press Room on Friday that Warner deserved to hold his spot in the side ahead of the youngster, but every Fraser-McGurk masterpiece is muddying the waters.

Originally published as How a bizarre Big Bash League twist kick-started an Aussie wildcard’s World Cup push