Ricky Ponting has high hopes for 22-year-old Jake Fraser-McGurk, believing the young batsman could be Australia’s next cricketing star, though he acknowledges Fraser-McGurk still has work to do. Ponting, who accumulated 13,378 runs in Test cricket during his legendary career, has been mentoring the Victorian cricketer, helping him transition from a promising youngster into a potential key figure for the Australian side.
Fraser-McGurk has been showcasing his skills in both the Big Bash League and the Indian Premier League (IPL) while aiming to secure a more permanent role in the national team. Ponting has kept a close eye on the rising talent, admiring his progress.
“He hasn’t made a big impact internationally yet, but I believe he will,” Ponting told Sky Cricket. He added, “I’ve been watching him for years now in the Big Bash, and we brought him to the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, where he pulled off some incredible things.”
One of Fraser-McGurk’s standout attributes, according to Ponting, is his raw power at the crease. “He hits the ball as hard and clean as anyone I’ve ever seen, and he’s not a particularly big guy, but he’s got that natural talent.
His strong forearms and big hands are signs of a born cricketer,” Ponting remarked. Additionally, Fraser-McGurk has shown exceptional skills in the field, making him an all-around asset to the team.
Fraser-McGurk didn’t have a great debut in T20Is for Australia but he scored a quick half-century against England
Fraser-McGurk recently gave a glimpse of his potential, scoring a half-century off just 29 balls during Australia’s second T20 international against England in Cardiff. This performance, though early in his career, hints at what could be a promising future in international cricket.
However, Ponting believes there are areas of Fraser-McGurk’s game that still need fine-tuning, particularly his batting technique. “He has a bit of a baseball stance and tends to play in a single hitting plane,” Ponting explained.
“At Delhi, we worked on helping him open up more areas of the ground, rather than just focusing on hitting in one direction. Small adjustments like these could make a huge difference.”
As Fraser-McGurk continues to refine his game, with Ponting’s guidance, the young cricketer is on track to follow in the footsteps of players like David Warner, potentially securing his place in Australia’s Test squad in the near future.
