Ponting believes that the 22-year-old rising star didn’t anticipate being selected in the first place, saying, “I don’t think Jake expected to get picked in the first place.”
Fraser-McGurk, who is currently playing for DC in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, has been showcasing an exceptional performance throughout the tournament.
In seven matches, he has amassed an impressive 309 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 235.88.
Ponting praised the young batter’s impact, stating, “It was only a few weeks ago that he turned up here as a replacement player, and probably the furthest thing from his mind was actually getting a chance to be in that World Cup squad. It’s just been how electrifying he’s been in this IPL. Some of the things he’s done – I think he’s made three 20-ball fifties in this tournament, so he along with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have been the stand-out powerplay batsmen in this entire tournament.”
Despite Fraser-McGurk’s stellar performance, he was not included in Australia’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The team, led by all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, features the return of left-arm spinner Ashton Agar and the inclusion of all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green. However, notable omissions include veteran batter Steve Smith, experienced seamer Jason Behrendorff, and all-rounder Matt Short.
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Australia are set to commence their T20 World Cup campaign against Oman in Barbados on June 5, followed by Group B matches against England, Namibia, and Scotland. As the tournament approaches, Ponting and his DC team will focus on their upcoming match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2024 on Sunday.
(Inputs from ANI)
