Young Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk has once again found himself omitted from the white ball squads ahead of the upcoming series against South Africa, scheduled for August in Cairns, Darwin, and Mackay. The 23-year-old, previously praised by Ricky Ponting as a potential successor to David Warner, had a disappointing outing against the West Indies, managing only two runs in his recent T20 match.
Fraser-McGurk’s performance has been underwhelming, with an average of slightly over 14 runs across his 15 international appearances. He is joined by Tanveer Sangha, Cooper Connolly, and Aaron Hardie in being dropped as the selectors finalise their squads. Notably, Sean Abbott and Xavier Bartlett have been included but separated into ODI and T20 squads, respectively.
In contrast, Mitch Owen’s impressive form has earned him his first selection for the ODI squad, having participated in all five T20 matches in the West Indies. His performances have put pressure on selectors to include him in both upcoming squads against South Africa. The return of experienced players such as Lance Morris, Josh Hazlewood, and Travis Head adds further depth to the team.
Selection chief George Bailey expressed that the recent series highlighted the flexibility and resilience within the squad, particularly in batting orders and bowling roles during various stages of matches. The positive aspects of young players, including Owen and Matt Kuhnemann during their debuts, as well as Nathan Ellis’s consistent performance, were things Bailey noted as highlights.
The upcoming series will see a smaller squad being fielded for home games, factoring in the return of certain players while also acknowledging that others remain in contention for future matches. Bailey emphasised the importance of balancing opportunities for emerging talent with preparations for the traditional Test summer. Notably, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will be absent from this series as they focus on the Ashes, while Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell have both retired from ODI cricket.
For the series against South Africa, the Australian squad includes: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, and Adam Zampa, with Abbott, Tim David, Matt Kuhnemann, and Maxwell limited to T20, while Bartlett, Alex Carey, Marnus Labuschagne, and Morris are part of the ODI squad only.