Former Australia opener David Warner feels dynamite batter Jake Fraser-McGurk can fill his place in the white-ball side following his international retirement. Australian Team’s exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup meant Warner bowed out without a trophy this year.

One of the most successful Aussie batters over the past decade, Warner spent some time with Fraser-McGurk in the middle and dressing room during IPL 2024, playing for Delhi Capitals, and also during the showpiece event, where Australia picked McGurk as a travelling reserve. Although he was in contention for making it to the final 15 following his magnificent maiden IPL season, the selectors opted to pick seniors instead.

However, with their campaign done and dusted, Australia will look into bringing a new face to replace Warner at the top, and who better than Fraser-McGurk?

“All yours now champion,” Warner’s caption on Instagram Stories read while mentioning Jake. 

Speaking to the media after Australia’s T20 WC exit, Warner said how he learnt the art of playing ODIs, Jake has to do the same, and once he gets the gist of it, he will go place in the shorter formats.

Commenting on his prospect of becoming a regular in the ODIs, Warner in a chat with News Corp and cricket.com.au. said, “Every time I put something out there, I become a selector [but] I think he’s definitely got the ability to definitely do that.”

“He (Jake) can lock it in. And a bit like myself, you [have to learn] how to play…50-over cricket. That’s one thing that I learnt from Twenty20. I got dropped after seven games because I didn’t really understand how to play the game of one-day cricket,” he added.

“So, from a one-day perspective, if he learns that and understands that he’ll have a fantastic career, especially batting in Australia. Best wickets in the world,” Warner further said.

Jake made a name for himself during the Marsh Cup last year, smashing a 29-ball hundred – the quickest ever in List A cricket. Jake then made his Australia debut soon after, playing two ODIs against West Indies, scoring 51 off 23 balls across two innings. 

His mega moment came when Delhi Capitals roped him in as an injury replacement, with Fraser smashing three of the quickest fifties in the tournament history. 

With the selectors likely to pick him for the upcoming Scotland and England series later this year, Warner feels McGurk is not far from his Test debut. 

“Will he play Test cricket? I think he’ll have to have a breakout year in the next 12-18 months to prove himself,” Warner said. “I think we’ve all had to score hundreds to get your name up there [to] warrant that.

“Hopefully, when it comes to Shield cricket this year, he sticks at that. There’s going to be a lot of money thrown around to him for these Twenty20 leagues, and it’s upon him and his management to keep him focused and aligned with what he wants to do. But I hope he does – I know he’s thinking like that. He wants to play red-ball cricket,” he continued.

(With inputs from agencies)