Australian cricket sensation Jake Fraser-McGurk has reportedly missed out on the T20 World Cup squad despite lighting up the Indian Premier League in recent weeks.

Steve Smith has also fallen out of contention two months after conceding he was “not really too fussed either way” on being selected.

But it is the decision to ignore the wildcard talent of Fraser-McGurk that selectors could come to regret when the tournament begins in June.

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The 22-year-old Victorian has scores of 55, 65 and 84 for the Delhi Capitals this season, albeit sandwiched between shorter innings of 20, 23 and 12.

His outrageously brutal innings have been in stark contrast to teammate David Warner, who started the season with scores of 29, 49 and 52, managing to score just 18, 10, eight and one in his last matches before being dropped and then sidelined with injury.

Just how close Fraser-McGurk came to a T20 World Cup call-up is unclear but he had been backed by prominent commentators in recent days.

“Should the first name on the sheet. Absolute certainty to be picked and open the batting in the World Cup,” Mark Waugh wrote.

Instead, the news of Fraser-McGurk’s snub broke just hours before a clash with Australian superstar Mitchell Starc — and he suffered another blow at the hands of the veteran bowler.

Fraser-McGurk just about kept out the first two balls he faced from Starc, scrambling singles off each.

The next two balls were smashed for six over wide long-on and four through backward point.

But the following ball he mishit to deep square leg where Venkatest Iyer took a fine low catch, sending Fraser-McGurk packing for a seven-ball 12.

Starc would not take another wicket in his three overs that conceded 43 runs.

He has now bowled 28 overs, taken seven wickets at 47.14 apiece and been hit for 330 runs — an economy rate of 11.78, or almost two runs per ball.

It is not the impact Kolkata Knight Riders anticipated when they signed Starc for $4.43 million to make him the competition’s most expensive player.

He is not alone, however, having watched his teammates concede 2-262 in their last match while he was sidelined with a finger complaint.

The Knight Riders held Fraser-McGurk’s Capitals to 9-153 on Monday and chased down the total with seven wickets and 21 balls to spare.

– with AAP