Australia v England: Second men’s T20 - Jake Fraser-McGurk hits maiden 50 as Aussies shine

Exciting Jake Fraser-McGurk has cashed in on an unexpected quick recall, smacking his maiden international half-century as Australia set England a formidable target of 194 to keep their T20 series hopes alive in Cardiff.

The 22-year-old Fraser-McGurk, dropped for the first-match victory in Southampton on Wednesday after a lean spell in the Scotland series, was given a fresh opportunity after captain Mitch Marsh had to miss the Sophia Gardens clash with illness.

Travis Head stepped in as captain for the first time and immediately led from the front after being invited to bat, smashing a fearless 31 off 14 balls, including a couple of sixes, before Fraser-McGurk entered the fray after the skipper’s dismissal.

He quickly demonstrated why he is considered such a dazzling talent, hammering Sam Curran for three straight boundaries and later clouting two sixes as he went to his 50 off just 29 balls, only to get caught in the deep a couple of balls later off Liam Livingstone’s spin.

Matt Short, with another bright knock of 28 in a swift partnership of 52 alongside Head, and Josh Inglis, who made another valuable contribution of 42 off 26 balls, helped maintain some mid-innings momentum.

Then a late blast from allrounder Aaron Hardie, with an unbeaten 20 off nine balls including 17 off Curran’s final over of the innings, helped propel Australia to 193-6, leaving England to chase down the second-highest T20I total at the Welsh venue.

“Mitch is a bit sick at home,” Head had reported at the toss, admitting that the skipper’s illness and the absence of injured pacer Xavier Bartlett meant it was “all hands on deck” for the Australians, with the prospect of clinching the three-match series in their sights following the Southampton win.

Josh Hazlewood, impressive in Southampton, has been rested, presumably to protect him after a recent calf niggle, with seam bowling allrounder Hardie and spinning allrounder Cooper Connolly both coming into the side.

Overnight scans revealed Bartlett had suffered a side strain in the first game, and he will not play in Sunday’s final T20 in Manchester either, with Ben Dwarshuis joining the squad for the Old Trafford game.

England made a surprise change too for their must-win match, deciding to wrap up their brilliant but injury-prone strike bowler Jofra Archer in cotton wool while bringing in Brydon Carse, who filled in impressively, as he took 2-26 off his four overs.