Lucknow, April 13: Jake Fraser-McGurk made his debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday. His swashbuckling act with the willow stunned many cricket experts.
His innings enabled his team Delhi Capitals (DC) to beat hosts Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Ekana Cricket Stadium by six wickets. After the match, Fraser-McGurk's stakes definitely shoot up.
Tom Moody, former Australia all-rounder turned coach, who is busy now sharing his expertise as a commentator in TV, suggested that Fraser-McGurk must be given the opportunity to open the batting for DC.
Well, will that change DC's fate in IPL 2024? Hopefully yes, feel many. Because, Fraser-McGurk is immensely talented and is an aggressive batter, who can demolish any bowling attack on his day. He may be new to the IPL, but he has definitely proved his potentials as an aggressive batsman for teams he had played so far.
Moody's thoughts are echoed by Delhi Capitals' assistant coach Pravin Amre. The former India batter turned coach Amre, heaped praise on Fraser-McGurk's scintillating half-century performance that helped DC beat Lucknow Super Giants.
Fraser-McGurk on his IPL debut scored 31 balls half-century and became the third youngest overseas batter to score a half-century in IPL history. He with skipper Rishabh Pant added 77 runs for the third wicket that helped visitor to chase down the target of 168 runs with 11 balls remaining.
"It was a tremendous innings from Jake," said Amre at the post-match press conference on Friday.
"He was batting very well in the nets and we could see that he had the x-factor, he had that ability to strike the sixes. If you see his innings, he got five sixes and his first two scoring shots were sixes. That's what we want in this format. We were doing well in the last two games but were not crossing the line. That's why we wanted someone to have an impact on the game and I think he delivered", Amre added.
"Jake is a top-order batter. We have Warner there and Shai Hope batted well for us in the first match (at No3) and became injured after that. We knew he would get an opportunity and he got that today and grabbed it with both hands. For any good talent it is important to show that in the middle and there is a lot of difference between doing well in the nets and performing in the match. And I'm very happy that the kind of batting that is required for this format, he showed just that."
Fraser-McGurk 's innings ended after scoring 55 off 35 deliveries. Amre also commented on Kuldeep Yadav’s 'Player of the Match' award performance and called him a pure match-winner.
"The way Kuldeep bowled today and delivered a dream ball to Nicholas Pooran...he is a match-winning batter and getting him out was crucial to restrict them to 160 (167). Yes, Badoni scored a 31-ball fifty but that impact from 160 to 190, that margin was reduced (thanks to Kuldeep) and we controlled the game. I also think Axar [Patel's] role was important, and we were able to have a good period in the middle overs. They had a good power-play and after that we controlled the game. Credit goes to our spin department," said Amre.
Kuldeep Yadav missed the Capitals' last three matches due to an injury, but he was back with a bang. The wrist-spinner picked up Marcus Stoinis (8) on his third ball, a wrong'un sliced tamely towards backward point, and then followed it up by removing Nicholas Pooran, LSG's in-form batter, for zero with one that ripped back to uproot the off-stump. Not only did Kuldeep put the brakes on the home side's run surge and quietened the crowd, he also completely nobbled the stump.
Rahul was batting beautifully on 39 from 21 when he attempted to cut one going across him and feathered an edge behind off Kuldeep. It wasn't given out on the field, but Rishabh Pant quickly reviewed it and Rahul departed after scoring 39.
"The season did not start well for me. (But) I was very motivated because I was batting well in the nets. I was just backing myself to play an impactful innings, which happened today. I'm thankful to KL Rahul and Justin Langer for backing me and giving me a chance," said Badoni. "When I went out to bat I was thinking of taking it to the end and then attack. If we play 20 overs then 150-plus was a possibility. Eventually we made 160-plus...(but) we were 20 runs short."
But will DC open their batting with Fraser-McGurk in their next match? If they do, will Fraser-McGurk be able to replicate his performance? May be yes. Considering Delhi Capitals' poor run in this year's IPL so far (only two wins from six matches), DC supporters and team management would love to see Fraser-McGurk as their rescue-man. (With IANS support)
