Australian team, is Jake Fraser-McGurk playing, Australian opener Travis Head, David Warner’s replacement, analysis, news – MASHAHER

Star batter Travis Head believes emerging sensation Jake Fraser-McGurk will reap rich rewards from travelling to the Caribbean for the T20 World Cup next month as Australia seeks to add the short-form championship to its Test and one-day international titles.

The 22-year-old, who has performed well for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, and Matthew Short will serve as reserves to the Australian squad of 15 for the month-long tournament behind hosted by the West Indies and the United States.

Head, who has been playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, said it is clear Fraser-McGurk will become a feature in Australian cricket. He believes the trip abroad next month will further his education about what is required to succeed in international cricket.

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“His entry point is not far away. It’s great to see him as a reserve. It is great to see him in there. I think he will learn a lot. I think he will see a lot in a World Cup, (which is) a big tournament,” Head told foxsports.com.au

“It is something that I would have loved to have done as a young kid, a young guy coming through, to see that and then kickstart your career (and) I think it gives him a kickstart, gives him a bit of a head start into the international experience before he actually plays.

“I know he’s played a little bit (for Australia), but I guess those teams that he played in were missing a few. So to see it full strength will be really exciting for him.”

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Head, interviewed ahead of the release of the Prime series The Test, has identified Fraser-McGurk as a likely replacement for his Delhi Capitals teammate David Warner at the top of the order when Australia host Pakistan for a one-day series in November.

The left-hander joked that he was not certain whether it was “a good thing or a bad thing” that Fraser-McGurk had spent the past two months alongside Warner in Delhi, but predicted the explosive top-order batter could have a similar impact to the veteran.

“I think him being with Davey, obviously in Delhi, (it could be) a good thing or a bad thing. But I think he’s someone who will come through the same way Davey has,” Head said.

“So I hope he’s learned a lot over here from him over the last eight weeks. Again, to get him around this group, whether his time comes (now) or not, I think it’s going to come in the near future at some point.

“If you don’t see it at this World Cup, you’ll see it very quickly in those one dayers, I think, (in) early November. I think we play Pakistan in November, so it’s almost a given that his name will probably be on that sheet with Davey not being around the one day team.”

There was surprise when Fraser-McGurk was not named in the initial squad, with Fox Cricket expert Mark Waugh among those who believed he would strengthen the Australian team.

Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who is a teammate of Fraser-McGurk in South Australia, is pleased national selectors recognised the performances of the dynamo during the IPL.

“It is great to see him recognised for the success and the form he has been able to show in the IPL,” Carey said.

“But seeing him first-hand (with South Australia), what an amazing talent he is. He will fit into that (World Cup) group really well and there are massive things to come from him.”

Head, who is a proven a matchwinner for Australia in all three formats of cricket, said he is encouraged Fraser-McGurk has an appetite to improve in red ball cricket with an aim of playing Test cricket for his country.

“He is going to be good. He will bring a lot of energy, obviously. And like I said, when you are going well, and everything’s exciting and moving well, all that energy is going to be good for the squad,” Head said.

“Jake’s an exceptionally excitable young man, but he also works hard, asks good questions, wants to do well, wants to perform (and) I feel like he as a desire for all three formats, which is good at this stage.”