NEW DELHI:
Australia
have added two promising names,
Jake Fraser-McGurk
and
Matt Short
, to their
Twenty20 World Cup
squad as travelling reserves.
Fraser-McGurk was in excellent form while playing for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, and Short, who can also contribute with his off-spin bowling, was a standout performer in the recent
Big Bash League
in Australia.
Despite their impressive performances, both players narrowly missed out on being included in the initial 15-man squad due to the strength of Australia's top order, which includes the likes of
David Warner
,
Travis Head
, and
Mitchell Marsh
.
However, chief selector George Bailey acknowledged their strong cases for selection, stating, "Matt and Jake made compelling cases for initial selection with their respective performances for Australia last summer and, in Jake's case, more recently in the IPL."
Bailey also explained the reasoning behind their inclusion as travelling reserves, citing the challenges posed by the tournament's tight schedule.
"As the tournament proceeds, the short turnaround between fixtures makes it challenging to get players in at short notice in the event of injury. Matt provides the squad with an all-round skill set option, while Jake provides further batting cover," he said.
The Twenty20 World Cup is set to take place in the United States and West Indies, commencing on June 2. The Australian squad, led by captain Mitchell Marsh, features a strong lineup of experienced players and promising talents, with Fraser-McGurk and Short ready to step in if needed.
Australia squad:
Mitchell Marsh (capt), 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
Travelling reserves: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short
(Inputs from AFP)
English (US) ·