Aussie cricket sensation Jake Fraser-McGurk sends strong message to selectors that should have David Warner worried
- Jake Fraser-McGurk claims T20 World Cup call-up
- Aussie Young Gun defeated 84 at just 27 for Delhi Capitals
- Aussie Great says selectors will be thinking about him
Just days before Australia announce their T20 World Cup squad, Jake Fraser-McGurk has made an irresistible claim for a place with his latest dazzling display of batting pyrotechnics in the IPL.
The 22-year-old Delhi Capitals opener pulverized Mumbai Indians’ attack with 84 off just 27 balls at Delhi’s home Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, including a half-century off 15 deliveries, the joint fourth-fastest in IPL annals.
It propelled Delhi, again without David Warner, who is still nursing an injured finger, to a huge 4-257, leaving Mumbai ten runs short at 9-247, despite a late blast from Tim David, with his 17-ball 37.
Watching Fraser-McGurk from the commentary box, former Australia captain Michael Clarke could only enthuse: “The selectors have to think about him now with the team just days away from selection. Honestly, it’s hard to discount him the way he’s played so far.
Australian youngster Jake Fraser-McGurk has sent a strong statement to the T20 selectors
‘I imagine the conditions in the Caribbean will be quite similar, slower wickets with that extra punch in the power play required. He hasn’t hurt his chances and I’d like to see him in that squad of 15.’
It was breathtaking from the start as the Box Hill blaster cracked Fraser-McGurk left-armer Luke Wood for four, four and six off his first three balls and then had the nerve to hit Jasprit Bumrah around the park for the world-beater. worst IPL this season, at 18.
In all, ‘JFM’ hit eleven fours and six sixes in his dazzling knock, recording the highest of his three half-centuries, collected in just five matches since coach Ricky Pointing decided to gamble on putting him in a struggling team.
With Warner and Mitch Marsh injured, he was in action for 247 runs at an extraordinary strike rate of 237.50.
“He has 22 sixes and 220 of those 247 runs have been within boundaries – that’s crazy, T20 batting at a new level,” former Indian Test star Sanjay Manjrekar said.
Fraser-McGurk, who even looked on course to beat Chris Gayle’s IPL record of a 30-ball century until he holed out with one heave too many, simply took all the praise – not to mention the JFM face masks in the crowd – with a pinch of salt.
“That’s my role,” he shrugged, after single-handedly beating the six-over powerplay at 78. “Go out and score as much in the front six as I can and if I continue with it, I will continue with it.
“Not at all,” he smiled when asked if he was a player who could touch the occasional single. ‘If I get one or two, it’s probably the last ball of the over – otherwise I’ll mishit it.’
The 22-year-old destroyed Mumbai Indians’ 84-ball attack off just 27 balls at Delhi’s home Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.
But T20 cricket can be fickle. In the other match of the day in Lucknow, Marcus Stoinis, fresh from his brilliant match-winning 124no against Chennai, was bowled for a four-ball duck by Sandeep Sharma as his Justin Langer-coached Super Giants were defeated by seven wickets by table-topping Rajasthan Royals.
After captain KL Rahul took the lead for Lucknow with a 48-ball 76 in their 5-196, Rajasthan made a significant chase, led by captain Sanju Samson’s 71no and Dhruv Jurel’s 54no in an unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership. of 121.