One of Australia’s most promising up-and-coming cricketers is on his way home from an on-going tour of South Africa, after being injured in a, get this, rogue monkey attack.
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17-year-old Jake Fraser-McGurk (editor’s note: great name) was in South Africa as part of the Australian squad currently competing in the Under 19 ICC Men’s World Cup.
After competing in a match against Nigeria last Thursday, the team made reportedly made an outing to a nature reserve near Kimberley, in central South Africa.
While there, Fraser-McGurk was set upon by the monkey, receiving a scratch on the face during the attack.
Although team officials did clear him to play in Tuesday’s losing quarter final effort against India, Cricket Australia has since confirmed the young gun will head home early for precautionary treatment.
Medical officials had recommended Fraser-McGurk return to Australia for treatment within seven days of suffering the scratch, and he will be home inside that window.
In a short statement issued via Cricket.com.au, Fraser-McGurk said “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.”
Cricket Australia officials are confident the Victorian batsman will suffer no on-going issues related to the scratch after he completes a course of treatment. It’s expected he’ll receive medical clearance to return to the field after completing treatment.
