The other spot under consideration is that of a bowler,almost certain to be the gifted young wrist-spinner Tanveer Sangha,as cover for Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar on slow pitches and also as a quality net bowler in training. The deadline for final nomination of World Cup squads is Saturday.
Fraser-McGurk’s inclusion makes most sense in terms of specialist top order cover for David Warner,who has been battling bone bruising in his hand,and captain Mitch Marsh,who is on his way back from a hamstring injury.
It would also afford Fraser-McGurk the opportunity to be called up in much the same way he got his chance with Delhi – contacted by their coach Ricky Ponting and signed up as a late replacement for Lungi Ngidi in March – after he was not purchased at the IPL auction in December.
Fraser-McGurk has provided some clarity about where he sits in the order of preference with a selection panel that is determined not to “chase form” by chopping and changing the team too much:an issue that players have often debated with selectors in the past.
“You’ve got David Warner,our best opener in three formats,you’ve got Travis Head,who is lighting it up over here[at the IPL] and has lit it up the past 18 months,and Mitch Marsh is the same,and he’s also the captain,” Fraser-McGurk told theWillow Talk podcast.
“I can’t really see myself batting at five or six because we’re pretty set there with Tim David,Cam Green;those sorts of guys. The way I think about it is that’s fine,there’s hopefully going to be more time for that[World Cup appearances].”