Australia has confirmed its starting XI for the T20 series opener against the West Indies in Kingston, with an injury opening the door for Jake Fraser-McGurk’s national return.
Earlier this month, Fraser-McGurk was added to Australia’s T20 squad at the eleventh hour alongside Queensland seamer Xavier Bartlett, with the duo replacing fast bowlers Spencer Johnson (back injury) and Josh Hazlewood (workload management).
On Sunday morning, cricket.com.au reported that Matt Short had been ruled out of the T20 tour of the Caribbean with a minor side strain, creating a vacancy for Fraser-McGurk at the top of the order.
The Victorian will open alongside captain Mitchell Marsh, while Hobart Hurricanes hero Mitch Owen will make his international debut in the middle order, becoming Australia’s 112th men’s T20I cricketer.
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Meanwhile, pinch-hitter Tim David has been rested for the series opener as he nurses a hamstring injury, with all-rounder Cooper Connolly set to bat at No. 7.
Hurricanes captain Nathan Ellis will lead the pace attack alongside Sydney Sixers duo Ben Dwarshuis and Sean Abbott.
Fraser-McGurk’s recent T20 form
MLC — 275 run at 25.00, SR 169.75 (11 innings)
IPL — 55 runs at 9.16, 105.76 (six innings)
BBL — 188 runs at 18.80, SR 138.23 (10 innings)
Fraser-McGurk has already experienced the highs and lows of professional cricket. In a rollercoaster 18 months, he went from fringe domestic player to one of T20 cricket’s most in-demand pinch-hitters, before crashing back down to earth courtesy of a dramatic dip in form.
During the recent Indian Premier League campaign, the Delhi Capitals dropped the 23-year-old from its starting XI after he notched 55 runs at 9.16 with a strike rate of 105.76 in six games.
However, despite initially missing selection for the West Indies tour, Fraser-McGurk has been handed another opportunity to press his case for selection in next year’s T20 World Cup in the subcontinent.
The first T20 between the West Indies and Australia gets underway at Kingston’s Sabina Park on Monday, July 12 at 10am AEST.
Australia’s XI for first T20 vs West Indies
Mitch Marsh (c), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Owen, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa
