Jake Fraser-McGurk to return home after being scratched by a monkey
The incident took place on an off-day at a nature reserve in Kimberley
ESPNcricinfo staff
29-Jan-2020
Jake Fraser-McGurk at a training session • ICC via Getty
Jake Fraser-McGurk will not take any further part at the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa and return home instead as a precautionary measure after being scratched on the face by a monkey at a nature reserve while on a team outing in Kimberley.
Australia's dreams of winning the title for a fourth time ended on Tuesday after they went down to India, and Fraser-McGurk had a particularly forgettable time of it, run-out first ball - without facing a ball - in Australia's unsuccessful chase of 234.
The incident at the nature park took place when the team took a break following their last-ball win over England on January 23, and after consultation with medical staff and family members, "it was deemed necessary for Fraser-McGurk to return to Australia for precautionary treatment within seven days of the accident", a Cricket Australia statement said, adding that "Australia will consider calling in a replacement for Fraser-McGurk for the final two matches of the tournament".
Alex Kountouris, the CA sports science and sports medicine manager, was confident Fraser-McGurk would not suffer any ongoing issues after treatment. "We want to make sure that Jake doesn't have any ongoing medical concerns as a result of the incident, so we have taken the best course of action," he said. "This involves the player returning to Australia for the treatment required within the recommended seven days of the incident taking place.
"We expect Jake will be available for selection shortly after he has completed the treatment."
Seventeen-year-old Fraser-McGurk, who made his first-class debut for Victoria in November last year, said "You never like to be leaving the boys with the tournament still in progress. But I'm confident we have the team to get the job done in the final two matches.
"I guess it serves me right for getting too close to the animal enclosure. That's a lesson learned. I look forward to completing the treatment and getting back on the field as soon as possible."