Jake Fraser-McGurk and Xavier Bartlett Join Australia’s T20 Squad as Hazlewood Heads Home
Australia has made changes to its squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series in the Caribbean. Jake Fraser-McGurk, a powerful top-order batter, and Xavier Bartlett, a talented fast bowler, have been called up to replace Josh Hazlewood and Spencer Johnson.
Hazlewood is heading back home to Sydney after playing four back-to-back Test matches. He will now prepare for Australia’s white-ball series against South Africa next month. Johnson, who hasn’t played since the IPL, is still recovering from a back injury.
Fresh Faces for the T20s
Fraser-McGurk made headlines with his explosive batting during the 2024 IPL. He quickly earned a spot in Australia’s T20 squad last year and has played seven T20Is, with a top score of 50. He has also appeared in seven ODIs, but has yet to make a major impact with the bat in that format.
Bartlett, on the other hand, has impressed with the ball. In just nine international matches, the right-arm pacer has taken 22 wickets. Known for his swing and control, Bartlett is seen as a rising star in Australia’s bowling attack.
Both players were recently playing for San Francisco in Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States and now see this Caribbean series as a big chance to secure a regular spot in the national team. Neither has played international cricket since last November.
Australia Dominating the Test Series
Australia has already won the first two Test matches against the West Indies:
- 1st Test: Australia won by 159 runs
- 2nd Test: Australia won by 133 runs
- 3rd Test: Starts July 12 in Kingston, Jamaica
Updated Australian Test Squad:
- Pat Cummins (Captain)
- Sean Abbott
- Scott Boland
- Alex Carey
- Cameron Green
- Josh Hazlewood (now withdrawn)
- Travis Head
- Josh Inglis
- Usman Khawaja
- Sam Konstas
- Matt Kuhnemann
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Nathan Lyon
- Steve Smith
- Mitchell Starc
- Beau Webster
West Indies Test Squad:
- Roston Chase (Captain)
- Jomel Warrican (Vice-captain)
- Kevlon Anderson
- Kraigg Brathwaite
- John Campbell
- Keacy Carty
- Justin Greaves
- Shai Hope
- Tevin Imlach
- Alzarri Joseph
- Shamar Joseph
- Brandon King
- Johann Layne
- Mikyle Louis
- Anderson Phillip
- Jayden Seales
With Hazlewood heading home and new energy coming in through Fraser-McGurk and Bartlett, Australia is getting ready to shift gears for the T20 leg of their Caribbean tour. Keep following Sportsclubindia for more updates, match previews, and live coverage from the West Indies tour.