Australia’s Steve Smith and Jake Fraser-McGurk left out of T20 World Cup squad; Watch the tournament live on Sky Sports in June

Australia have made some surprising omissions in their provisional 15-man T20 World Cup squad, with both Steve Smith and Jake Fraser-McGurk left out of the team for the upcoming tournament in the USA and the Caribbean.

Former captain Steve Smith’s struggles in the T20 format have been evident, with disappointing performances in New Zealand earlier this year and a lack of consistent scores in recent years. Despite his love for playing T20 cricket, Smith has failed to make a strong case for his inclusion in the squad.

On the other hand, Jake Fraser-McGurk has been in impressive form for Delhi Capitals in the IPL, scoring two 15-ball fifties and showcasing a remarkable strike-rate of 233.33 in six innings. However, the 22-year-old has still been left out of the squad, raising eyebrows among fans and experts alike.

Chief selector George Bailey mentioned that Fraser-McGurk was part of “long conversations” regarding his selection, indicating that the decision was not taken lightly. As for Smith, Bailey suggested that it was up to the player to define his goals and challenges in the game moving forward.

Despite the absence of Smith and Fraser-McGurk, Australia’s squad boasts a strong lineup with experienced players like Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, and Pat Cummins leading the charge. The team will be looking to defend their T20 World Cup title after their triumph in the UAE in 2021.

Cricket fans can catch all the action from the T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports Cricket from June 1-29, with the tournament set to kick off in the West Indies and the USA. Don’t miss out on the excitement and drama as the best teams in the world battle it out for T20 supremacy.