Last Updated:November 08, 2024, 10:27 IST
Fraser-McGurk registered meagre scores of 16 and 13 in the two ODIs so far, while Short could muster up only an abysmal 1 and 19 across the same matches.
Both Fraser-McGurk and Short have failed to impress at the top of the order for Australia so far in this series (AFP)
It’s nowhere near the display that both ‘schoolyard bullies’ Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short would have wanted, as both fiery Australia openers fell miserably short of their expectations with the bat against Pakistan in the recent ODI series.
Brought into the side to provide some tactical firepower up the order, both Fraser-McGurk and Short produced subpar displays with the bat across the two ODIs against the Men in Green so far.
Fraser-McGurk registered meagre scores of 16 and 13 in the two ODIs so far, while Short could muster up only an abysmal 1 and 19 across the same matches.
In fact, the iconic Ian Healy himself also expressed his displeasure over Australia’s batting, and especially the two openers, in the series opener which AUS won by slender margins.
“Our shot selection was poor and to me, Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk were playing like schoolyard bullies. The disregard for the conditions wasn’t good enough,” stated a spirited Healy.
“The Australian boys’ egos weren’t able to be put away for even half an hour. Inglis and Smith did it and then Pat Cummins had to do it.”
Their lack of form in the international level may open up doubts for major IPL franchises who may now have second thoughts about acquiring the batters for their teams at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, which lies mere weeks away.
Earlier this year, Fraser-Mcgurk, who came in as an injury replacement for bowler Lungi Ngidi, had impressed the cricketing world in his debut IPL season with his fearless batting for Delhi Capitals, as he hammered 330 runs in nine matches at a punishing strike rate of over 234.
His explosive performances prompted Australia to include him in their squad as a travelling reserve for next month’s T20 World Cup after he was not in their initial list.
Short, who has less than 20 white-ball internationals to his name, led the Adelaide Strikers with aplomb in the last Big Bash League (BBL) tournament when promoted to captain the T20 side.
The batter staked his claim at the top of the order for Australia after topping the BBL’s batting list with 541 runs from 11 matches, earning him a second successive Player of the Tournament award.
News cricket Jake Fraser-McGurk And Matt Short Fail Yet Again Ahead of IPL 2025 Mega Auction
