Hailed as an aggressive batter from his early days, Jake Fraser-McGurk hit headlines when he slammed a 29-ball hundred – the fastest List A hundred – for South Australia against Tasmania in a Marsh Cup match in October 2023.

With a List A strike rate of 140, it was only a matter of time before he broke into the Australia ODI side, especially after David Warner’s retirement from the format – though the left-hander has said that he would consider a recall for next year’s Champions Trophy if the circumstances were right. He missed the first ODI of the three-match series against the West Indies, but was picked for the second, at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Opening the batting with wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, Fraser-McGurk had a go right from the onset, against the pace of Alzarri Joseph. He tried to loft the first ball over mid-on, but missed the ball completely. The second ball, outside off stump, was met with a prod, and he was beaten again.

He stepped out even before Joseph delivered the third ball and drilled it to the long-on fence for four. Joseph altered his length, but Fraser-McGurk had anticipated it: he stood rooted to the crease and swung the ball over the square-leg fence.

Joseph now bowled on a length outside the off stump. Fraser-McGurk played the softest stroke of his innings, and Shai Hope held an easy catch behind the stumps.

Gudakesh Motie (3-28) took out the Australian middle order. Australia finished on 258-9, largely thanks to Sean Abbott scoring 69 from No.8.

Watch Jake Fraser-McGurk’s international debut innings:

The first five balls of Jake Fraser-McGurk's international career were certainly entertaining! #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/FeRxgFJZHO

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 4, 2024