Fraser-McGurk earns opening reprieve with Short out

Perth Now

6 days ago

Jake Fraser-McGurk will be given the chance to open the batting for Australia again, with Matt Short ruled out of the Twenty20 series against West Indies with a side strain.
Australian officials have confirmed that Fraser-McGurk will open alongside Mitch Marsh in the first T20 on Sunday (Monday AEST), while Mitch Owen will debut.
Fraser-McGurk had initially been left out of the squad for the five-match T20 series after a run of low scores for Australia, before earning a reprieve with a late call up last week.
Short had been expected to open, but officials have opted to play it safe and send him home with the allrounder battling a side injury.
The Victorian is expected to be fit to play South Africa in a series of top-end white-ball games next month.
Owen is expected to bat at No.6 for the tourists, with Tim David out of the series opener with a minor hamstring niggle.
Owen opened for Hobart when he was leading run-scorer in last summer's BBL, but selectors are understood to view him as a power-hitting finisher.
"He is a really exciting prospect for Australia," Marsh said.
"A young imposing figure and appears to be a really nice young man. We just want him to enjoy debuting for Australia and hopefully he can win a few games."
This series marks the start of Australia's lead up to next February's T20 World Cup in the sub-continent, with 17 matches between now and then.
Nathan Ellis will lead the tourists' bowling attack with the big-three quicks all sent home early, while Marsh will not be used with the ball.
That will leave an attack of Ellis, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshius and Adam Zampa, with Glenn Maxwell and Cooper Connolly's spinners likely to come in handy.
"We don't want anyone to come in here and feel like they have to prove themselves," Marsh said.
"This series they come together as our attack and our unit. We have spoken about being really connected, and they'll lead the team."
AUSTRALIA TEAM FOR FIRST T20:
Mitch Marsh (capt), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Owen, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshius, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.