After controversially being left off Australia’s initial squad for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup, Jake Fraser-McGurk has been added as a reserve to travel to the West Indies and US. 

Fraser-McGurk and BBL player of the year Matthew Short will join the 15-man squad for the early stages of the tournament, which starts on June 1.

They will link up with the squad as potential injury cover, with Cricket Australia saying the team will travel to the West Indies in stages so some players and staff can have some time at home after competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

“Matt and Jake made compelling cases for initial selection with their respective performances for Australia last summer and, in Jake’s case, more recently in the IPL,” chair of selectors George Bailey said.

“As the tournament proceeds, the short turnaround between fixtures makes it challenging to get players in at short notice in the event of injury.

“Matt provides the squad with an all-round skill set option, while Jake provides further batting cover.

“Both players have exciting talents that can add to the squad if needed. If not, the experience will still be valuable in their respective development journeys at international level.”

Fraser-McGurk’s Delhi Capitals missed the IPL play-offs on net run rate, but the 22-year-old shone at the top of the order in his nine games, with a top score of 84 off just 27 balls, finishing with four half-centuries and an overall strike rate of 234, which was the highest in the tournament among players with more than five innings.

Pat Cummins and Travis Head’s Sunrisers Hyderabad and Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru are in the play-offs, with the final to be played on May 27.