Former legendary Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has had the back of youngster Jake Fraser-McGurk and has recognized him as a promising talent for Australian cricket.
Ponting has largely lauded Fraser-McGurk, the 22-year-old who came to the limelight among cricketing greats after his IPL heroics as he scored 330 runs for the Delhi Capitals at a strike rate of 233.33.
However, Jake Fraser-McGurk was appointed in the role of opener and a deputy of retired legend David Warner for the Scotland tour, where he made his debut in T20Is. However, the way he had a terrible debut series would largely affect his confidence.
However, in his recent post-match commentary session with Sky Sports, Ponting said that Jake Fraser-McGurk has the quality to represent Australia across all three formats; he just needs to change his approach more and increase his temperament in the game.
“He’s an extreme talent. He’s a ball-striking talent. He’s still very much of a rough diamond, though. Like I, I’m not sure in his own head he’s actually worked out exactly the right way to go about it yet. I mean, he only goes one way, but when he’s thinking about hitting the ball to different parts of the ground, that’s when you see the best Jake Fraser-McGurk quite often,” Ponting was quoted saying to Sky Sports.
Australia Tour of England – T20I Series
The Aussies are now playing the T20I series against England, the nation they are touring for a 3-match T20I and a 5-match long ODI series. Of which the first T20I was played yesterday at the Southhampton Rose Bowl, where Aussies picked Matt Short instead of JFM as an opener alongside the aggressive and in-form Travis Head.
After his initial knock against Scotland, Head didn’t score well in the next two games, though he climbed back in the first England T20I with a stunning 23-ball 59-run knock, in which he smacked Sam Curran alone for a 30-run over.
With Head’s 59 and Short’s 41 at the top of the innings, the Aussies could post a total of 179 as the English collapsed for a minor 151, with the visitors taking an early lead in the series with a 28-run victory. Eventually, Abbott and Zampa emerged as the pick of the bowlers, alongside Hazelwood’s vital strikes of Jacks and Livingstone.
Despite missing out on the opening game, JFM remains one of the biggest prospects to watch in the Australian side and also still remains to be fore-runners as David Warner’s ideal replacement.
