- Fraser-McGurk, 21, has blasted 109 runs from 51 balls
- Turned heads while playing for Dubai Capitals in the UAE
- Prodigy is approaching his T20 debut for Australia
In his first spell abroad, Jake Fraser-McGurk needed just 51 balls to show Australian cricket fans how bright the future looks.
Twice in three games in the ILT20 competition in the United Arab Emirates, the 21-year-old has saved his Dubai Capitals team following failures from his captain, David Warner – and their contrasting figures could provide food for thought for the national selectors.
Fraser-McGurk has already been recognized for his Big Bash breakthrough with a call-up to the Australian ODI team and a potential debut at the MCG on February 2. He has given the tournament a boost in the UAE.
In his three innings so far, Fraser-McGurk has achieved scores of 54, 14 and 41, with his 109 runs coming from just 51 balls.
His nine sixes are bettered only by West Indian slugger Nicholas Pooran.
Jake Fraser-McGurk needed just 51 balls in his first overseas spell to show Australian cricket fans what a bright future looks like
The 21-year-old has amassed 109 runs in the UAE and looks to be closing in on a T20 debut for Australia
The young player was also a standout for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash this summer
Twice Fraser-McGurk, holder of the world record for the fastest ever century in 50-over cricket, a record he achieved for South Australia last October, is on the brink after a Warner failure.
His Capitals captain has struggled in his early innings as a T20 freelancer, with a score of 20, bookended by tries from just one and then a two-ball duck in his latest venture to the crease.
Warner, who turned 37 in October and faced 36 balls for a total of 21 runs in Dubai, has no six and has hit just two boundaries.
Despite his poor start to the tournament, Warner is confident that better things are yet to come.
“If I get past three overs, watch out,” he said after the match after the win against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
That has been his success: Fraser-McGurk has become the poster boy for his franchise, appearing in multiple social media posts.
He was even hailed as the ‘coolest player of the match’ after his 41 from just 17 balls on the night.
Of the other Australians playing in the competition, Tim David, who retained his place in the Australian T20 squad for the upcoming series against the West Indies, has just 68 runs and Chris Lynn 63 as the next best Aussies behind Fraser-McGurk.
Fraser-McGurk is back in action on Sunday before returning to Australia to join the ODI squad.
National selectors are likely to capitalize on Fraser-McGurk’s momentum and hand him an ODI debut.
And if everything is timed into a T20 World Cup year, more runs could mean the rise of the ‘Rooster’ will continue.