Just days before Australia name their Twenty20 World Cup squad, Jake Fraser-McGurk has added to his case for a place with his latest staggering demonstration of batting pyrotechnics in the IPL.
The 22-year-old Delhi Capitals opener pulverised the Mumbai Indians attack to the tune of 84 off just 27 balls at Delhi’s 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’s still nursing an injured finger, to a massive 4-257, with Mumbai then falling short by 10 runs on 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 be thinking about him now, with the team just a few days away from being selected. It’s hard to leave him out to be honest, the way he’s played so far.
“I imagine conditions will be pretty similar in the Caribbean, slower wickets with that extra power in the power play needed. He’s done his chances no harm and I’d love to see him in that squad of 15.”
It was breathtaking stuff from the start as the Box Hill blaster Fraser-McGurk cracked left-armer Luke Wood for four, four and six off his first three balls and then had the temerity to smash Jasprit Bumrah around the park for the world-beating pacer’s worst IPL over this season, going for 18.
Altogether, “JFM” went on to hit 11 fours and six sixes in his dazzling knock, recording the highest of his three half-centuries compiled 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’s stepped in for 247 runs at an extraordinary strike rate of 237.50.
