T20 World Cup 2024: Australia likely to include Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short as travel reserves

Australia are all set to include Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short in their T20 World Cup reserve contingent as they prepare to clinch yet another International Cricket Council (ICC) silverware. According to credible reports, the selection panel led by George Bailey will include Fraser-McGurk who was a revolution for the Delhi Capitals in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2024). Fraser-McGurk’s explosive form was praised by everyone but was not enough to get him a place in Australia’s 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup.

Reprieve for Fraser-McGurk?

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the 22-year-old will be in the USA and West Indies with the squad but only as a travel reserve. This will mean he won’t be able to participate in any official contest either as a player or a substitute. However, he could be part of the training sessions and can travel with the rest of the squad. The report also sees Matt Short being the other player part of the travel reserve and could be a value addition if there is any late casualty in the squad. 

For Fraser-McGurk, IPL 2024 proved to be the breakthrough season having scored 330 runs in nine matches. He was only roped in as a late change after Lungi Ngidi pulled out due to injury for DC in the IPL 2024. Considering he was only roped in for a base value of $24,000, it proved to be a bargain for DC who narrowly missed out on the IPL 2024 Playoffs. 

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While Matt Short has already represented Australia in nine T20I matches with a best of 66 runs with the bat. He will primarily serve as a backup to Glenn Maxwell as he also bowls whenever required.

Short had a breakout season in the Big Bash League 2022-23 that saw him win the Player of the Tournament Award after being the competitions leading run-scorer. He followed that up the next season, again making the most runs and going back-to-back in the Player of the Tournament Award.

Australia open their T20 World Cup campaign against Oman in Barbados on June 5, before Group B fixtures against England, Namibia and Scotland.

Australia squad:

Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

All teams are allowed to make changes to their squad until 25 May, after which any alteration will require approval from ICC's Event Technical Committee.