Champions Trophy: Smith backs 'dangerous' Jake Fraser-McGurk ahead of tournament
What's the story
Australian captain Steve Smith has thrown his weight behind Jake Fraser-McGurk ahead of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and UAE. This comes amid Fraser-McGurk's recent dismal show in the recently concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Fraser-McGurk ended the series with paltry scores of two and nine, as Sri Lanka swept Australia 2-0. The young cricketer, who is known for his unorthodox batting style, had earlier made a strong impression during last year's IPL, playing for the Delhi Capitals.
Performance review
Fraser-McGurk's struggles in ODI format
Fraser-McGurk has been struggling since his ODI debut, having scored just 98 runs in seven matches while averaging 14. His form worsened in the Sri Lanka series, where he could only score 11 runs in two matches. As mentioned, this resulted in Australia's defeat in the final ODI and raised questions over his position in the team.
Captain's support
Smith defends Fraser-McGurk's inclusion in ODI lineup
Despite the criticism, Smith defended Fraser-McGurk's inclusion in the squad. Speaking after the series loss, he emphasized on the young player's aggressive style and the skills. "Yeah, look, he's a very aggressive player," Smith said. "He's got all the shots around the ground, and yeah, I think it's just picking them to play at the right time and he hasn't quite got going here." "We know the talent that he possesses so that's why he's in this squad," he added.
Future prospects
Smith highlights Fraser-McGurk's potential for Champions Trophy
Further, Smith stressed on Fraser-McGurk's potential in the upcoming Champions Trophy, calling him a 'dangerous' player. He suggested that Pakistan's pitches could work in his favor. "He's dangerous, I think the wickets in Pakistan potentially suit him so yeah I think he's going to learn a lot just being around the group and continuing to work with all of us as the coaches," said Smith.
Numbers
A look at the batter's ODI and List A stats
As mentioned, Fraser-McGurk owns just 98 runs across seven ODIs at an average of 14. He owns a strike rate of 132.43, alongside a high score of 41, (vs West Indies). Meanwhile, in 27 List A matches, he has amassed 574 runs at 26.09. The batter boasts a strike rate of 135.05, including one ton and one fifty in 24 innings.