NEWS
Follow UsSix months ago at the Indian Premier League (IPL), Jake Fraser-McGurk could do no wrong. The 22-year-old came in as a replacement for Lungi Ngidi for Delhi Capitals (DC) and set the tournament alight, hammering 330 runs at a scarcely believable strike rate of 234.04. There, the right-hander announced himself as one of the most exciting young batters in the world.
But moving up to international cricket has been a reality check for the 22-year-old, who, after eight games for Australia, averages 20.00 in ODIs and 16.50 in T20Is.
He’s shown some real spark with his stroke-making, but he’s been found wanting many times. His one-dimensionality—his reluctance to grind it out in tough conditions — led to his downfall.
The current Australian management have come under criticism for ‘enabling’ Fraser-McGurk to play this way but head coach Andrew McDonald backed the youngster in the lead-up to the third ODI against Pakistan.
"He hasn't got off to the start he wants in this series, and Jake (Fraser McGurk) is not the finished article either,” McDonald said ahead of the third game.
"Everyone thinks he may be the finished article, but he's going on a journey with his career, and we believe he's good enough to play at this level at this point in time.
"But clearly, there's always going to be some setbacks within that."
But it’s not just Fraser-McGurk who has come under criticism. Australia have batted in sixth gear from ball one in the ongoing series against Pakistan and it cost them dearly in the second ODI in Adelaide, where they slipped to a humiliating nine-wicket defeat. They almost blew the first game before a rescue act from skipper Pat Cummins got the team over the line.
But McDonald defended the side’s approach and insisted that the Kangaroos will continue to be aggressive.
"We go to Perth with a clear plan, a clear method," McDonald said.
"We're committed to the style we want to play. The big thing about that is we've won 16 out of the last 19 games, and we've got some changing personnel within that, but we believe in the style we want to play as a group.”
The Australia head coach said that it’ll be important for his side to strike the right balance while looking to be positive. "If you looked at the dismissals today there was some defensive strokes in that," he said.
"It's just finding that balance, and we've had great success with the style we want to play at the top of the order to make sure we're putting pressure on opposition bowling units.
"Sometimes that can work, and over the journey so far, it's served us well.”
With the series locked 1-1, Perth will host the series decider on November 10 (Sunday).
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