Champions Trophy: Ponting Supports Fraser-McGurk as Australia's Opener in Semi-Final Against India

Synopsis

In the lead-up to Australia's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against India, Ricky Ponting has expressed strong support for Jake Fraser-McGurk to replace the injured Matt Short as opener. Fraser-McGurk's IPL success and potential make him an exciting choice for the pivotal match.

Key Takeaways

Ricky Ponting endorses Jake Fraser-McGurk as opener.
Matt Short ruled out due to injury.
Cooper Connolly enters the squad as a reserve.
Fraser-McGurk has ODI experience with a strike-rate of 132.
Ponting suggests moving Steve Smith up the batting order.

Dubai, March 4 (NationPress) Former captain Ricky Ponting has endorsed young talent Jake Fraser-McGurk to step in for the injured Matt Short at the top of Australia’s batting lineup for their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final showdown against India on Tuesday.

Short's exclusion comes due to a left quadriceps injury sustained during Australia's rain-affected Group B match against Afghanistan. His absence elevates reserve player Cooper Connolly into the squad.

Connolly, known for his powerful hitting and ability as an off-spin bowler, serves as a viable replacement. However, Ponting is placing his trust in Fraser-McGurk, who has made seven ODI appearances for Australia, boasting a strike-rate of 132 and an average of 14 runs with a personal best of 41.

"He can step right into that role. Honestly, that’s probably the direction I would take, hoping he has one of those standout days because in high-stakes matches like these semi-finals, you need to take risks," Ponting expressed in the latest episode of The ICC Review.

"I believe he’s the type of player who, if given a chance, could potentially deliver a significant victory in a crucial game like this," he added.

Ponting supports Fraser-McGurk partly due to his outstanding IPL 2024 performance, where he achieved a remarkable strike-rate of 234 across nine innings.

"He may feel a bit disheartened by his recent performance levels, so this could be the match where he shines... just like he did with the Delhi Capitals last season in the IPL," Ponting remarked.

Ponting also proposed other possible options, including players already present in Australia’s Champions Trophy lineup.

"They could also consider moving Steve Smith up to open the batting. He has excelled in T20 cricket as an opener over the past few years. He is proficient against fast bowlers, which is crucial for handling the new ball and navigating the middle overs," he noted.

"They might also place Josh Inglis in that position, allowing Cooper Connolly to provide another left-handed option in the middle order, which could be advantageous against spin," he concluded.