Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short were included in the Australia men’s cricket team for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 as travelling reserves on Tuesday.
The upcoming T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States of America in June. Australia had named a 15-member core squad for the marquee event earlier this month.
However, with veteran opener David Warner recovering from a hand injury and captain Mitchell Marsh still nursing a hamstring issue, the need for reinforcements in the travelling party was deemed necessary.
Both Fraser-McGurk and Short were added to the squad as standby players following their impressive displays in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Big Bash League (BBL), respectively.
Fraser-McGurk was at his explosive best for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, scoring 330 runs in nine matches at an average of 36.66 and an unbelievable strike rate of 234.04. His tally in what was his debut season in the IPL included four fifties.
“You look at Jake’s form in the IPL – he took that by storm and he was a serious consideration for the final 15,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald told cricket.com.au.
Meanwhile, Short, who led Adelaide Strikers in the BBL 2023-24 season, finished as the top run-getter in the tournament. He scored six fifties in 11 matches to tally 541 runs at an impressive average of 60.11 and a strike rate of 153.25. Short also picked up five wickets in the BBL with his handy off-spin.
“Matthew Short’s BBL form has been outstanding over a long period of time and he’s shown glimpses at the international level as well, albeit at times he’s had to play a different role,” McDonald explained.
Leg spinner Tanveer Sangha was in contention to take one of the reserve spots but missed out due to a hip flexor injury suffered during training in Brisbane.
Australia will start their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Oman on June 6 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Australia, who won the T20 World Cup in 2021, are placed alongside Oman, England, Namibia and Scotland in Group B.
The Australian men’s cricket team is also scheduled to play two warm-up matches against Namibia and West Indies on May 29 and May 31, respectively in Trinidad.