Despite his impressive performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he amassed 259 runs in six matches at an astonishing strike-rate of 233.33, the 22-year-old believes he hasn’t done enough to warrant a place in the national team yet.
Speaking on “The Willow Talk” podcast, Fraser-McGurk expressed his perspective on the situation, stating, “There’s two ways you can look at it. You can look at it through, ‘This is what I’ve done to prove my case,’ and then there’s also, ‘Look, a month-and-a-half ago I wasn’t even in the picture.'”
The uncapped T20 international player remained unfazed by his omission, acknowledging the difference between IPL and World Cup cricket.
“It didn’t really bother me a hell of a lot because I wasn’t in this position to sort of …. feel like I’ve earned that yet. World Cup cricket is a lot different to IPL and franchise cricket,” added the 22-year-old batsman.
While some Australian cricket writers have criticized Fraser-McGurk’s exclusion, citing fitness and form concerns among the selected players, the young batter recognizes the challenges of breaking into a top order that features the likes of David Warner, Travis Head, and Mitchell Marsh.
He also acknowledged the depth in the middle order, with players such as Tim David and Cameron Green cementing their positions.
“I can’t really see myself batting (at) five or six because we’re pretty set there with Timmy David, Cam Green and those sort of blokes. That’s the way I think about it,” he added.
Fraser-McGurk’s journey has been remarkable, from playing domestic cricket in South Australia and living near the Adelaide airport to rubbing shoulders with the elite in the IPL. He credits his Delhi teammate, David Warner, for taking him under his wing and introducing him to a world of luxury, including dinners at lavish mansions and rides in Ferraris.
“Me and Davey having a joy ride. I love that sort of stuff. he said. Everyone knows him here (in India),” stated Fraser-McGurk.
(Inputs from Reuters)