Gades Watch: Rooster's rise, Matthews recognised, players prepare for World Cup

Rooster's rise

Wow, what a ride!

Jake Fraser-McGurk lit up the Indian Premier League, enjoying an incredible tournament at the crease and forcing the world to stand up and take notice of one of the most exciting batters in world's cricket... not that we didn't already know that.

After waiting a few games for his debut, 'Rooster' amassed 330 runs from his nine matches for the Delhi Capitals to finish with a 36.67 average (third best for players with less than 10 matches) and an insane 234.04 strike rate (sixth best of the tournament).

The whirlwind performance included a high score of 84 and two of the fastest 50s of the tournament both off a measly 15 deliveries.

It was a tantalising watch for Gades fans who'll look forward to seeing that on home soil when Fraser-McGurk suits up again in BBL|14.

For now, the 22-year-old is preparing for a stint inside the Australian camp at next month's T20 World Cup in the USA and Carribean as a travelling reserve.

Matthews recognised

Hayley Matthews has been a cornerstone of the West Indies' success, most notably dominating their recent series against Pakistan.

Displaying her all-around class, Matthews excelled with both bat and ball. She finished the series with 530 runs, at an impressive 75.7 average, while also collecting 13 wickets. Her run haul included two brilliant knocks of 141 and 140* in two of the three one-day fixtures while the T20Is were fruitful with scores of 58, 68 and 78.

Matthews' leadership and consistency make her one of the most valuable players in the women's cricket scene at the moment, form with was rightly recognised by Wisden with the crown of Leading Twenty20 Cricketer for 2023.

At the top of her game, Matthews will no doubt be in the sights of Melbourne Renegades' list management ahead of the WBBL Overseas Player Drafts which are now taking nominations.

Gades in the UK

Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon are adding some Renegades and Australian flair to the country cricket season in England.

Siddle has suited up for Durham and picked up seven wickets from his two matches, including 3/27 (10 overs) in the first innings of last week's match against his old side Somerset.

Lyon has been equally as impressive. Earmarked for a number of games for the Gades this summer, the prolific off-spinner has taken 20 wickets from his six matches including hauls of 3/50 (16) and 4/59 (26).

Meanwhile, one-time Gades batter-keeper Jodan Cox, who made his BBL debut last summer, has been making runs for fun for Essex in the Country Championship.

Cox has amassed 731 runs - the second most of any player - from his seven matches with a top score of 207 in last week's clash with Kent.

Gades prepare for World Cup

The squads are in for the men's T20 World Cup in the USA and Carribean and there's a number of recent Gades who'll have a big say.

Close to home, Adam Zampa will line up for his fourth World Cup for the Aussies. He is a proven performer in the world's biggest stage and, sitting on 23 wickets in T20 World Cups, pulled out of the recent Indian Premier League to refresh and set himself for another big tournament.

He'll be joined by Jake Fraser-McGurk who was recently added to the squad as a travelling reserve.

Quinton de Kock (South Africa), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan) and Scott Edwards (Netherlands) will also feature for their respective countries.