'He's making it harder and harder': Ponting concedes 'next David Warner' may be axed by Aussies

Ricky Ponting hailed Jake Fraser-McGurk as Australia's next David Warner only a couple of months ago.

Now the cricket icon has admitted the young tyro could be dropped for the team's first Champions Trophy match on Saturday.

The Aussies kick off their trophy hunt against old enemy England in Lahore on Saturday night.

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Both teams enter the ODI tournament in questionable form. Australia was thumped in two white-ball matches by Sri Lanka, while England endured a nightmare tour of India during which their training methods were questioned.

Australia's frontline bowling attacking is almost all missing but the microscope is aimed squarely at the top of the batting order.

Fraser-McGurk, 22, is supposedly one of the most talented up and coming sluggers in Australian cricket.

But he has so far failed to fire at international level. He averages a measly 14.00 from seven one-day internationals and has never made it past the fifth over of a game in the format.

His modes of dismissal have caused plenty of concern and doubts have been cast over his ability to play anything other than a lofted shot in front of square.

Ponting has now conceded his Indian Premier League prodigy is struggling to bring his best game to the top level.

"He's making it harder and harder (for selectors to pick him)," Ponting told 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.

"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."

It was in November when Ponting sung Fraser-McGurk's praises and suggested he was the heir apparent to retired Aussie legend David Warner.

"He hasn't set the international scene on fire yet, but he will," Ponting said on Sky Cricket.

"He hits the ball as cleanly and as hard as anyone I think I've ever seen."

If Fraser-McGurk is axed it could force Steve Smith to rise up the order and open alongside Matt Short or Travis Head.

It is a switch that Adam Gilchrist and now Ponting have suggested.

"Do they think about opening the batting with Steve Smith," Ponting said.

"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."

The Champions Trophy is one of the very few pieces of international silverware not currently sitting in Australia's cabinet.

Pakistan is the reigning champion and tournament host.