'Schoolyard bully' - Healy blasts Fraser-McGurk and Short's attitude in MCG win

Former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy has blasted Australia openers Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short for playing with a lethargic attitude in the first ODI against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground which the hosts won by two wickets.

Both Fraser-McGurk and Short, who were given the license to attack by skipper Pat Cummins in the lead-up to the series, perished trying to slog the bowlers despite the target being a mere 204. Short perished first and then Fraser-McGurk followed suit as he got caught at mid-on trying to slog Naseem Shah.

Healy came down hard on both the openers despite Australia finishing on the winning side.

“Our shot selection was poor and to me, Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk were playing like schoolyard bullies,” Healy was quoted as saying by Fox Cricket.

“The disregard for the conditions wasn’t good enough. The (Australian) bowlers and Mitch Starc said during the innings break that the pitch was two-paced and uneven in bounce.

“So what do we do? We think we can go out and slog the Pakistani bowlers all over the place.

“The batters didn’t learn anything from what the bowlers had told them, they didn’t regard the opposition enough.”

Thanks to 40s from the pair of Steve Smith and Josh Inglis, and a nerveless 32* from skipper Cummins, Australia eventually got over the line.

But Healy said that the Kangaroos’ showing was ‘not good enough’ and insisted that the reigning 50-over World Cup champions still have ‘a lot to learn’.

“We have got a lot to learn,” Healy said.

“We are gearing up for a Champions Trophy, so there aren’t many trials before a team has to be selected. We should be playing these games properly but they are treating it like a schoolyard.

“It wasn’t good enough. We won but just and with 17 overs to spare.”

Australia have now won 10 consecutive ODIs at home. Their last loss at home in 50-over cricket came back in 2022 against Zimbabwe in Townsville. 

The second ODI will be played at the Adelaide Oval on November 8 (Friday).

If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out on our content — big time. Download the App here