Australia is poised to include big-hitting batsman Jake Fraser-McGurk and all-rounder Matthew Short as traveling reserves for the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to commence on June 1 in the US and West Indies.
Fraser-McGurk, aged 22, made waves in the IPL with his explosive batting for Delhi Capitals, amassing 330 runs in nine matches at a remarkable strike rate of 234, including four half-centuries. Despite his stellar performance, he was not initially named in the 15-member provisional squad due to Australia’s well-established top three of David Warner, Travis Head, and captain Mitchell Marsh.
Meanwhile, Short, a batting all-rounder, has featured in nine of Australia’s last 14 T20Is, often opening the innings. His consistent performances also earned him the accolade of Big Bash League player of the tournament in consecutive seasons.
Initially, Australia’s chair of selectors George Bailey had indicated that only one reserve would travel with the squad to the Caribbean. However, it is now likely that Fraser-McGurk, in top form, will be named alongside Short, according to ESPNCricinfo.
The Australian World Cup squad is set to embark on a training camp in Trinidad on Thursday. Including two practice matches against Namibia and West Indies on May 28 and 30, respectively.
Key players such as Head, Cameron Green, Pat Cummins. Mitchell Starc, and Glenn Maxwell will join the squad later, having commitments in the IPL playoffs.
Several players, including Marsh, Warner, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa, Matthew Wade, Nathan Ellis, and Josh Inglis. Have had limited game time since the conclusion of the Australian domestic season in March. However, under ICC rules, only those named in the 15-man squad can participate in the warm-up fixtures.
Despite Marsh’s recovery from a hamstring injury, he is yet to resume bowling. Marsh, Hazlewood, Inglis, Zampa, and Agar, along with Short, have been training in Brisbane over the past two weeks.
Australia will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against Oman in Barbados on June 5.
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