George Bailey explains reason behind Jake Fraser-McGurk snub for ICC T20 World Cup 2024

Jake Fraser-McGurk has twice scored 15-ball half-centuries in the ongoing IPL 2024 for DC.

Jake Fraser-McGurk’s exclusion from Australia’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad has left the fans confused. This was especially after the youngster’s explosive exploits in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 for Delhi Capitals (DC).

Despite being uncapped in T20 internationals, 22-year-old Fraser-McGurk made a strong case for inclusion, scoring 247 runs in five matches for the Delhi Capitals at an incredible strike rate of 237.50.

According to Australia’s selector George Bailey, the non-inclusion of wunderkind Jake Fraser-McGurk from the World Cup was due to Australia’s settled top three and an emphasis on roster flexibility.

The 22-year-old breakout star of the ongoing IPL 2024 did not make the Australia’s 15-man roster for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States, which will begin next month.

George Bailey, Australian selector, stated that Fraser-McGurk was among the players who had “long conversations” about the June 1-29 extravaganza in the United States and the Caribbean.  

Top of the order is where he’s best suited: George Bailey says a settled top-order reason behind Jake Fraser-McGurk’s snub

Bailey noted that the selection panel sees them as top-order players, but believes incumbents Travis Head, David Warner, and Mitch Marsh are better possibilities.

Steve Smith’s omission was unsurprising given his tumble down the T20 pecking order in recent years, but Fraser-McGurk has made a convincing argument by annihilating several of the world’s finest bowlers in a string of brutal IPL performances.

“Ultimately in that squad we’re looking to get … all 15 players on the selection table for each and every game to be able to have those discussions to structure up the way we want. His form’s been great of late, and that’s fantastic, but the way we’re functioning at the top of the order with the three guys we’ve had there has been really strong as well.

I’m not sure how much work he’s done in other positions, but it certainly looks like the top of the order is where he’s best suited. We think we’ve got some other guys that have got some good flexibility around where they bat. As part of the build-up, we’ve seen some players perform in some different batting roles to cover off any eventuality,” Bailey was quoted by cricket.com.au

Bailey kept the door ajar for Fraser-McGurk to earn a ticket to the Caribbean as a traveling reserve, but said Matt Short, Tanveer Sangha and Spencer Johnson are also in the mix.

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