Former Australian captain Michael Clarke hailed Jake Fraser-McGurky’s explosive performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and his inclusion in Australia’s 20th World Cup squad.
Fraser-McGurk scored 84 off 27 balls, studded with 11 boundaries and six maximums, to reach a total of 257-4 against the annual champions Mumbai Indians. That feat, along with his record half-century off just 15 deliveries, caught Clarke’s attention and backed the 22-year-old’s selection in the squad for the tour of the United States and the West Indies in June.
Speaking from the commentary box, Clarke said it was hard to ignore Fraser-McGurk’s impressive contribution.
Noting that the youngster has adapted to similar conditions in the Caribbean, he will play a key role in overcoming the challenges of slow wickets and the need for power-hitting in the powerplay. With the election looming, Clarke said Fraser-McGurk’s consistent performances had strengthened her bid for a place in the final 15.
Fraser-McGurk’s impact did not go unnoticed by former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, who was impressed by his impressive statistics, which included 22 sixes and 220 from a total of 247 runs in five matches. This extraordinary form of power hitting took T20 batting to new heights and Fraser-McGurk became widely known.
Despite his age, Fraser-McGurk’s prowess with the bat set a new record for the fastest one-day hundred when he scored a 29th century against Tasmania in the Marsh Cup last year. cricket
Assistant coach Delhi Capitals Pravin Amre confirmed Fraser-McGurk’s unique talent, citing the X-factor that comes through even on a clean sheet.
