'Huge future': Teen prodigy sizzles in Sheffield Shield debut
A phenomenal Sheffield Shield debut from Victorian teenager Jake Fraser-McGurk has made the cricket world sit up and take notice.
At 17, Fraser-McGurk is the third-youngest player in Victoria’s Shield history but against Queensland on Wednesday, he proved that age was no barrier.
Taking on the Bulls attack by the scruff of the neck at the MCG, the youngster immediately showed why the Bushrangers were so keen on fast-tracking him into the senior set up.
Fraser-McGurk scored 51 on debut, sharing in a 104-run stand with Handscomb that gave Victoria a handy lead.
The teenager faced 91 balls, hitting three boundaries and a six, before he edged Steketee to Charlie Hemphrey at first slip with a rare false shot.
The young batsman’s glorious technique even drew comparisons with one of Australia's greatest ever batsmen, Ricky Ponting, with fans hailing the incredible debut on social media.
What a debut from 17 y.o. prodigy Jake Fraser-McGurk, notching a delicious half-century for Victoria!
📰 via @gouldyheraldsun: https://t.co/HXSxcVh4Aq
That pull shot though...where have we seen that before? 🤔#SheffieldShield #FraserMcGurk #Ponting #Rooster #TheGherkin pic.twitter.com/vX72DosEa0— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) November 13, 2019
Keep it up. Congrats to Jake Fraser-McGurk
50#SheffieldShield— JaayShaan(Shankar) (@JaayShaan) November 13, 2019
There's some seriously promising cricketers coming through the grades at @vicpremcricket level and in the Cricket Vic pathway programs, and Jake Fraser-McGurk's brilliant #SheffieldShield debut at 17 is just indicative of that. What a huge future he has! @VicStateCricket
— Nick Creely (@NCreely) November 13, 2019
Out. A terrific debut innings comes to an end as Fraser-McGurk prods a Steketee delivery to first slip. He's gone for 51, but what an effort from the young man 👏
VIC 4-192 leading by nine runs #VICvsQLD #SheffieldShield— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) November 13, 2019
17yo Jake Fraser-McGurk has notch scored a half century for Victoria at the MCG.
— Matt Thompson (@MattThompson) November 13, 2019
Jake Fraser-McGurk has looked very very good, only 17 as well
— Jake (@JakeWhite16) November 13, 2019
the kid they call "rooster" - jake fraser-mcgurk - is 17. https://t.co/apAUkkifhs
— Russell Gould (@gouldyheraldsun) November 13, 2019
"I was pretty nervous when Finchy (Aaron Finch) got out but it was good to bat with Pete out there, he calmed me down quite a bit," Fraser-McGurk said at the tea break.
"I was just happy to get a decent score for my first dig. It was better than I expected, kids dream of playing on the MCG but I just had to put that to one side and get down to business."
Victoria's innings ended in dramatic fashion as Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson capped it off with a stunning hat-trick.
James Pattinson was clearly furious when he was the second of Swepson's three lbw dismissals and the replay suggested the ball was going down leg side.
Swepson then dismissed Peter Siddle with the next ball after also claiming Will Sutherland's wicket at the end of the previous over.
A hat-trick for Mitch Swepson! #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/gzDeTaj0Eh
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 13, 2019
Pattinson made 42, while Swepson took 4-75.
Victoria declared three balls after the hat-trick on 9-300, a first-innings lead of 117.
Queensland faced two overs, despite the poor light, and a fired-up Pattinson thought he had Bryce Street caught behind.
Peter Siddle then trapped Street lbw for three.
Nightwatchman Cameron Gannon was halfway out to the crease, with rain falling, when the umpires finally called stumps.
Queensland captain Jimmy Peirson spoke with the umpires for several minutes after the rest of the players had left the field.
Earlier, Victorian captain Peter Handscomb was dismissed for 92 on the first ball after tea.
Mark Steketee took the new ball and trapped Handscomb lbw.
With AAP