IPL 2024, DC vs GT - GT's Plan To Harness Jake Fraser-McGurk

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Jake Fraser-McGurk has looked in great form in the tournament [AP Photos]Jake Fraser-McGurk has looked in great form in the tournament [AP Photos]

The Gujarat Titans are to face the Delhi Capitals in the 40th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024). This game will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on April 24th at 7:30 PM IST. 

The Titans will walk out onto the field during this game, desperate for the two points available. One of the biggest obstacles for the Titans in the game will be Jake Fraser McGurk. The Aussie youngster has shown brilliant dynamic batting in the tournament and has impressed everyone with his antics. If McGurk plays more than a couple of overs at the beginning, then he can take the game beyond the reach of the opposition. Thus, GT need to find a way to stop McGurk early. 


Who could be the prime weapons against Fraser-McGurk?

Let us first take a look at Fraser-McGurk's performance against the different bowling types. 

Bowler Type
Runs
Balls
Strike Rate
Dismissals
Right Arm Leg Spin24122001
Right Arm Fast Medium2614185.710
Right Arm Medium Pace21141501
Right Arm Off Spin307428.570
Left Arm Fast Medium10
6166.661
Left Arm Medium Pace1042500
Left Arm Orthodox2914207.14
0

A look at the numbers gives us the idea that Fraser-McGurk enjoys batting against off-spinners. In this tournament he has been dismissed by Leg-spinners, Right-arm medium pace and Left-arm fast medium bowlers. 

The fact that he has been dismissed by Right-arm medium pacers and Leg Spinners gives us the idea that he does not like it when pace if taken off the ball. 

His strike rate is also not high while facing Left arm Fast Medium bowlers, showing that Fraser-McGurk does not like the angle in this case. 

JFM has not yet faced a left-arm wrist spinners in this IPL. Let us have a look at his in general T20 record against the left-arm wrist spinners. 

Runs
Balls
Strike Rate
Dismissals
22203110

So, this shows that Fraser McGurk has not enjoyed too much batting against the Left-arm wrist spinners. 

Thus GT could go in with a plan involving three bowlers - Rashid Khan, Mohit Sharma, and Spencer Johnson.


How to stop Frasers-McGurk?

GT will have to use these three bowlers cleverly. In the previous face-off in IPL 2024 against Spencer Johnson, McGurk succumbed to a pacy short delivery aimed at his body. They can use Johnson at the beginning of the innings. Alongside Spencer, Mohit Sharma can be used and asked to bring in his change of length and pace. 

If McGurk goes past the first powerplay, then the best attacking option will be to operate with Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad in tandem. This would keep him quiet and might also result in his early departure.