Ponting anoints next Aussie to take world by storm

Ricky Ponting believes that while young batsman Jake Fraser-McGurk isn’t there yet, he’ll be Australia’s next big thing.
And Ponting, who had a pretty good knack for batting himself, scoring 13,378 Test runs across a stellar career for Australia, may just be right.
Fraser-McGurk, who is just 22, has been honing his craft across the Big Bash and IPL, as he looks to lock down a spot for Australia.
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Ponting has been his mentor this year, watching the Victorian grow from a kid into a batsman that could very likely become the next David Warner.
“He hasn’t set the international scene on fire yet, but he will,” Ponting said on Sky Cricket.
Jake Fraser-McGurk of Australia celebrates his half-century. NurPhoto via Getty Images
“I’ve had an eye on him for a few years now, seeing him in the Big Bash and some of the cameos he’s played there. We got him to Delhi in the IPL and some of the things he did there were just unbelievable.”
So what exactly is it about the youngster that has Ponting talking?
It’s the power in his forearms, of course.
“He hits the ball as cleanly and as hard as anyone I think I’ve ever seen, and he’s … slightly taller than me. He’s not a big bloke. But he’s one of those guys who, you just get around people and they’re just born cricketers,” he said.
Ricky Ponting has heaped praise on young Australian batsman Jake Fraser-McGurk. PA Images via Getty Images
“If you look at his physique and shake his hand, he’s got big, strong hands, strong forearms and he’s a natural cricketer. In the field as well, he’s a gun in the field.”
As for the proof of this, Fraser-McGurk notched up his maiden international T20 half-century for Australia against England in Cardiff in game two of the three-match series that concludes on Monday.
It came off just 29 deliveries.
What comes next is refining those batting skills, so the 22-year-old can elevate himself into a Test spot, just like Warner.
Jake Fraser-McGurk spent time honing his craft with the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. Getty
“He needs a bit of refinement with his batting,” Ponting said.
“He almost stands like a baseballer all the time and he’s got very much almost a single hitting plane that he’s got to keep continually working on to keep opening up different areas of the ground.
“That was the only thing I worked on with him at Delhi last season, was don’t cut the ground in half and thinking you can only hit the ball down here (over on side), so I just had him setting up slightly differently and allowing him to hit the ball over mid-off and over extra cover and things like that.”