Jake Fraser-McGurk’s horror show of an international career needs to be put on hold, possibly forever, after yet another insipid performance this morning (AEST) in the first T20I against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica.
His feeble dismissal, having toed a ball to mid-off attempting to slap it straight, ended a miserable stay of just seven balls and two runs, of which he was repeatedly beaten or seen swinging wildly. Yet again, he appeared well out of his depth, an all-too familiar occurrence in his increasingly faltering career.
There are simply no more excuses for the 23-year-old who has been exposed as a brash slogger with numerous – and significant – technical flaws. Those who have claimed in the past he was rushed into the Australian team without merit – and there were many who made this claim – have well and truly been proven correct.
Fraser-McGurk’s 15 international appearances have produced just 213 runs at 14.20, reaching 50 just once. Of even more concern are his spiralling numbers when domestic matches, all around the globe, are added in – he’s made 2,857 runs at just 21.00 in 132 games across all formats. He is a shadow of the talented, confident young kid who burst onto the Australian domestic scene in 2019, making half-centuries in each of his first class and one day domestic debuts.
His technical issues largely relate to his inability to face a moving ball. Seaming pitches, in particular, expose his poor footwork and inability to adjust to even the smallest amount of lateral movement. He is often caught flat-footed by good length deliveries and opponents are now targeting this obvious weaknesses.
Compounding the issue is his over-aggressive and poor shot selection. He goes aerial far too often, frequently aiming for sixes instead of building an inning. Critics, such as Australian legend Ian Healy, have noted his approach is reminiscent of a schoolyard bully. Often, it appears he has a total disregard for his opponents and the conditions, as his ultra-aggressive mindset results in another opportunity being thrown away. Even his preferred flat decks, as often seen in the Indian Premier League, are no longer hiding his deficiencies. What angers onlookers the most is his apparent arrogance, failing to adjust his approach or work on his technical weaknesses.
Being just 23, time is on his side, and with the growth of domestic T20 globally, his power and intent make him a captivating white-ball prospect for many franchises. However, he needs technical refinement to become the talent some predicted for him almost six years ago. It’s a three-step process:
1) Refine footwork: Working on movement, especially against seam/swing.
2) Better shot discipline: Introducing more horizontal shots and occasional defense.
3) Play his role carefully: Blending his natural power with situational awareness – defending when needed and attacking when appropriate.
Whether he is capable of putting in the hard work – technically and mentally – to meet this challenge remains unknown…
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