Former Australian captain Michael wants to see new power hitter Jack Fraser-McGurk in the national team for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Clarke has been impressed with McGurk's power hitting in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 cricket. He said that McGurk's devastating batting will make the selectors consider him for the World Cup.
McGurk got his first chance to play in this year's IPL. He impressed in his IPL debut against Lucknow Super Giants. The right-handed batsman scored 55 runs off 35 balls at a strike rate of 157, with 2 fours and 5 sixes.
McGurk then showed his formidable form against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He scored 65 runs off 18 balls with 5 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 361. In that match, he set the record for the fastest half-century in this year's IPL by scoring a half-century off 15 balls. McGurk's power hitting did not stop in this match.
McGurk opened the innings against Mumbai Indians yesterday. This time, he again brought up a half-century off 15 balls, crushing the Mumbai bowlers. In the match, which touched his record, McGurk played a devastating innings of 84 runs off 27 balls, hitting 11 boundaries and 6 boundaries at a strike rate of 311.
McGurk has scored 247 runs in 5 innings for Delhi so far at a strike rate of 237 and an average of 49. Because of such devastating batting, Australia's World Cup-winning captain Clarke wants McGurk in the Australian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
"The selectors have to think about McGurk now," Clarke said in the commentary box during an IPL match. "There are only a few days left to pick the team. Honestly, the way he's playing, it's hard to leave him out."
He added, "I think the conditions will be the same in West Indies. The power play on slower wickets requires extra energy. He has created his potential and I would like to see him in the 15-man squad."