Ponting ponders new role for Australia star at Champions Trophy

Fraser-McGurk averages just 14 from the seven innings he's played in ODIs, since making his debut in February 2024, with a top score of 41 off 18 deliveries against the West Indies in Canberra. Six of those seven innings were as an opener.

“Yeah, he's making it harder and harder (for selectors to stick with Fraser-McGurk),” Ponting said on the latest episode of The ICC Review.

“He's not had the greatest of summers. I mean, there's just so much talent there. There's so much ability and skill and talent that we haven't sort of seen consistently enough just yet. And that's one of the big calls (selectors) are going to have to make now as well.

“Do they think about opening the batting with Steve Smith, which is something that they could actually think about as well, I think, because of how well he's done in white ball cricket when he has opened the batting.

“(Smith) could be someone that could be an anchor through this Champions Trophy at the top of the order. And you know that with the form that he's in, he's going to make big runs.

“And Jake's the sort of player that if he does play at his best… he could win a tournament (for Australia). That's what the Australians, I think, would be saying. The coaches would be saying that to him. We'll see which way they decide to go at the start of the tournament.”

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