T20 World Cup 2024: Jake Fraser-McGurk poised to be named as travel reserve in Australia squad

Each season of the Indian Premier League introduces some emerging young talents with raw potential. In the 17th edition of the IPL, Australian power-hitter Jake Fraser-McGurk stood out as one such promising prodigy, having taken the tournament by storm with his fearless and aggressive batting.

While he could not make a place for himself in Australia's T20 World Cup squad contrary to the expectations, he is expected to be one of the traveling reserves in their 15-member squad as Australia selectors are set to pick two reserves to travel with the main team to the Caribbean and the US, the venue for the World Cup.

One of the reserves is expected to be a spinner, likely the talented Tanveer Sangha, who has impressed everyone in his 46 T20 innings while the second reserve is expected to be the widely-discussed 22-year-old Fraser-McGurk.

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After going unsold at the IPL auction in December, Fraser-McGurk received a call from former Australian captain and Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting as a late replacement for Lungi Ngidi in March. Ever since being brought into the XI since the sixth game of DC this season, Fraser-McGurk has gone hammer and tongs against the bowlers, registering four blazing half-centuries in his first seven innings and ending the campaign with a tally of 330 runs in nine innings, at a transcendental strike rate of 234.04.

Fraser-McGurk was all praise for the seasoned pair of David Warner and Travis Head as well as Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh. The youngster also admitted that with the likes of Tim David and Cameron Green being in such belligernet form, he doesn't see how he could have been accomodated anywhere in the squad. He took the exclusion in his stride, optimistically hoping to get many opportunities to showcase his flair at global events like the World Cup.

“You’ve got David Warner, our best opener in three formats, you’ve got Travis Head, who is lighting it up over here [at the IPL] and has lit it up the past 18 months, and Mitch Marsh is the same, and he’s also the captain. I can’t really see myself batting at five or six because we’re pretty set there with Tim David, Cam Green; those sorts of guys. The way I think about it is that’s fine, there’s hopefully going to be more time for that [World Cup appearances],” Fraser-McGurk told the Willow Talk podcast.

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The inclusion of Fraser-McGurk seems to be the most logical as it offers specialised top-order support for Warner, who is dealing with a bruised bone in his hand, and for captain Marsh, who is recovering from a hamstring issue.

However, the selectors are expected to include him in the roster before May 25, after which any changes will need approval from the ICC's Event Technical Committee.