NEW DELHI: Australian cricket team coach Andrew McDonald said on Tuesday that flamboyant young batter Jake Fraser-McGurk and all-rounder Matthew Short have been added as travelling reserves with the squad for the T20 World Cup in the Americas because they bring something different to the table.
In just his first IPL season, 22-year-old Fraser-McGurk showed off his explosive batsmanship for the Delhi Capitals, hammering four half-centuries in nine games at a ridiculous strike rate of more than 234.
His 330 runs, which included 32 boundaries and 28 maximums, made many famous Australians advocate for his inclusion in the roster of fifteen players. However, he has now been added as a traveling reserve for the World Cup in the USA and the West Indies that takes place next month, after initially being left out.
"I think they're (Fraser-McGurk and Short) slightly different in what they offer. Fraser is an out-and-out opener and the way we've grown Matthew Short into the team is through the middle order and that spin (bowling) ability as well," McDonald told Sen Radio in Sydney.
McDonald said that Short may be useful if Glenn Maxwell had an injury.
"We feel like he's (Short) a spinning all-rounder much like Glenn Maxwell if anything should move there, and obviously Jake Fraser-McGurk is an out-and-out top order player," added McDonald.
Except in the event that a member of the squad is injured, the two reserves will not be allowed to play.
On Wednesday, the Australian team is scheduled to depart for the World Cup.
"Both exciting, I think they both add a lot.
"Those guys sit outside of the 15, the only way they can come onto the selection table is if there was to be an injury, we've got two options there depending on what we lose or what may unfold in terms of injuries," McDonald added.
The coach noted that apart from the two individuals, Australia has several other possibilities as well, should a player in the 15-member squad fall hurt or indisposed.
"We've also got some other options in Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett that are playing in the UK as well, so if we were to lose a bowler those guys are up and running in the UK… and they can come in, it's only a short flight into the West Indies from England.
Regarding the 37-year-old David Warner's fitness issues, McDonald stated that he was doing well.
"No, not at this stage. We believe he's fully fit, everything he says is he's fully fit, we know that he missed the last game for Delhi (Capitals in IPL), clearly that was a selection mechanism there with the way they want to play late in the tournament, I think he played the second last round... we have no fears he won't be fit and fully available.."
On June 6, Australia takes on Oman in their first group stage match in Barbados.
(With PTI inputs)
