Photo Credit: Melbourne Renegades
Young gun Jake Fraser-McGurk has re-signed with the Melbourne Renegades, penning a four-year extension and committing to the Renegades until at least the end of BBL|17.
The 21-year-old has been in scintillating form this season, leading the Renegades batting tally with 257 runs from his eight games, including a match-winning personal best of 70 (from 37 balls) against the Adelaide Strikers at Marvel Stadium.
He ranks among the top five league run scorers in BBL|13 and, of that lot, boasts a better strike rate (158.64) than all of them bar one (Chris Lynn, 164.32).
His raw power and incredible hitting has been a hallmark of his game, his first of two half-centuries in BBL|13 coming off just 22 balls against the Brisbane Heat’s impressive attack. Only Chris Gayle (12 balls v Strikers in BBL|05) and Aaron Finch (20 balls v Heat in BBL|06) have hit faster fifties for the Renegades.
Fraser-McGurk, who hails from Victoria, went into this Big Bash season one of the in-form batters in the country after blasting the fastest ever one-day hundred from just 29 balls for the South Australian Redbacks in this year’s Marsh Cup.
Considered one of the country’s best and brightest young talents, Fraser-McGurk said he’s thrilled to be staying a Renegade for the foreseeable future.
“It was an easy decision for me and to be part of the club’s future is really exciting,” Fraser-McGurk said.
“I’ve made some great mates here; I love being part of this playing group. With Finchy and Marshy now moving on, it’s a changing of the guard, and I want to keep contributing to what is a really talented young group moving forward.
“I feel I’ve taken real strides this year as a batter, the Renegades have given me an opportunity to express myself out in the middle and it’s paying off.
“Hopefully in the next couple of seasons those contributions can translate to more wins and we can have another crack at a second title.”
Originally signed as a replacement player late in BBL|08, he earned his first full contract in BBL|09 as a teenager and debuted the following season.
An attacking right-handed batter, Fraser-McGurk has been used in various roles in the batting line-up, at the top and through the middle order. In BBL|13 he’s played every game and flourished at number three.
Fraser-McGurk’s re-signing adds to the Renegades’ young talent pool committed to the club for years to come including Will Sutherland, Fergus O’Neill and Harry Dixon.
“Jake has so much talent and we have all enjoyed watching him harness that in BBL13. All of us at the Renegades, including our members and fans, are looking forward to seeing more,” Melbourne Renegades General Manager, James Rosengarten, said.
“He’s a great person to have at the club. He brings so much energy, in the changerooms and out in the middle. We’re delighted to have him with us to build around as we plan for the future.”
