Last update:08 November 2024, 10:27 IST

Fraser-McGurk has recorded meager scores of 16 and 13 in the two ODIs so far, while Short could only muster a dreadful 1 and 19 in the same matches.

Fraser-McGurk and Short have failed to impress at the top of the Australian rankings so far in this series (AFP)

It was not at all the display that the two ‘schoolyard bullies’ Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short would have wanted, as the two fiery Australian openers failed to live up to their expectations with the bat against Pakistan in the recent ODI series.

Brought into the side to provide high-end tactical firepower, Fraser-McGurk and Short have produced poor performances with the bat across the two ODIs against the Men in Green so far.

Fraser-McGurk has recorded meager scores of 16 and 13 in the two ODIs so far, while Short could only muster a dreadful 1 and 19 in the same matches.

In fact, the iconic Ian Healy himself also expressed his displeasure with Australia’s batting, and particularly the first two matches, in the first match of the series which AUS won by slim margins.

“Our shot selection was poor and to me Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk played like schoolyard bullies. Disregard for the conditions was not enough,” said a spirited Healy.

“The egos of the Australian boys could not be put aside for even half an hour. Inglis and Smith did it, and then Pat Cummins had to do it.”

Their lack of form at the international level may raise doubts for big IPL franchises who might now have second thoughts about acquiring batting players for their teams in the IPL 2025 mega auction, which will take place in a few weeks.

Earlier this year, Fraser-Mcgurk, who replaced injured bowler Lungi Ngidi, had impressed the cricketing world in his maiden IPL season with his fearless batting for Delhi Capitals, as he scored 330 runs in nine matches during a punishing strike. rate of more than 234.

His explosive performances prompted Australia to include him in their squad as a traveling reserve for next month’s T20 World Cup after he was not included in their initial list.

Short, who has less than 20 white-ball internationals to his name, led the Adelaide Strikers with aplomb in the last Big Bash League (BBL) tournament when he was promoted to captain of the T20 team.

The batter claimed his place at the top of the order for Australia after topping the BBL batting list with 541 runs in 11 matches, earning him a second consecutive Player of the Tournament award.