Jake Fraser-McGurk is being mentored by Glenn Maxwell.Credit:Getty
It was the fastest one-day century in professional cricket history.
In 2011,Glenn Maxwell recorded the fastest half-century in Australian domestic one-day cricket by clubbing 50 runs from 19 balls.
His innings of 61 from 27 balls,batting at No.8,helped Victoria get home against Tasmania off the final ball of the match.
Maxwell has been mentoring Fraser-McGurk after observing his prowess with the willow.
“No one in Australia is better to watch than Fraser-McGurk,” Maxwell tweeted in December. “Easily the most talented young batter in the country. His potential doesn’t actually have a ceiling.”
If Fraser-McGurk was left-handed,there would be countless comparisons to Warner. However,being a right-handed Victorian has some greats of the game feeling like they are watching a young Maxwell.
“There’s so much Glenn Maxwell in Fraser-McGurk it’s not funny,” said Mark Waugh in Fox Cricket commentary on Tuesday.
The difference between Maxwell and Warner is the latter was a genuine three-format player for Australia.
Like Warner,Fraser-McGurk is showing his flair against the white ball,and it might be performances in shorter formats that lead to higher red ball honours.
While the sample size is too small to accurately predict whether Fraser-McGurk can emulate Warner’s feats there is an audacity and confidence that indicates he is tracking in the right direction.
Fraser-McGurk hasn’t been picked in Australia’s T20 squad for upcoming matches against the West Indies and New Zealand.
Matt Short’s hamstring injury could have paved the way for Fraser-McGurk to come into the T20 side but selectors have called in all-rounder Aaron Hardie.
Jake Fraser-McGurk bats in Canberra.Credit:Getty
Fraser-McGurk certainly has work to do in red ball cricket. He averages just 22.39 from 13 first-class matches with a strike rate of 64 (Warner’s first-class strike-rate was 70.76).
With Warner now retired from Tests and Usman Khawaja nearing the exit door,there will be gaps to fill at the top of the Australian order. Fraser-McGurk’s average of 27.80 in this year’s Sheffield Shield season doesn’t make for pretty reading.
Warner hadn’t played a first-class match when he debuted for Australia. His final return of 8786 Test runs at 44.59 with 26 centuries is proof you don’t need to be a red ball specialist from day one.
Loading
Fraser-McGurk and Warner played together three times last month for the Dubai Capitals in the UAE’s T20 League,with the youngster twice outscoring Warner.
Fraser-McGurk insists he doesn’t want to just become a T20 mercenary.
“I said to[South Australia coach] Jason Gillespie:‘I want to be a three-format player for Australia later in my career’,”Fraser-McGurk told cricket.com.au this week.
“That’s my goal,I’m working towards that. That’s the reason why I moved to South Australia … I wanted to get a fresh start.
“But I didn’t think it was going to happen as quick as this and to get one format under my belt now is amazing.”
Sports news,results and expert commentary.Sign up for our Sport newsletter.