Time running out for Warner heir as punters lose patience with young gun despite Ponting's prophecy

If Jake Fraser-McGurk hopes to live up to the prophecy of Aussie icon Ricky Ponting, the young batter better get his skates on soon.

It was in September when Ponting declared the 22-year-old was Australia's next David Warner - an attacking opening batter who can score quickly and rack up the runs in the process.

While scoring quickly is not a problem for Fraser-McGurk, the number of runs he's been scoring is - and in a major way that should have selectors rethinking his spot in the Champions Trophy squad.

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He was out for 2 against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

His ODI scores for Australia now read 10, 41, 16, 13, 7, and 2 for an average of 14.83.

His T20I average is 16.14 from seven matches. His highest score in 13 games for Australia is 50.

A quick scroll through the social media cesspool that is X following his dismissal on Wednesday will give you a general idea of the Aussie public's view on Fraser-McGurk.

We keep hearing how talented he is, but so far that talent hasn't materialised into anything tangible at the top level.

Ponting was full of praise for the young tyro after Fraser-McGurk scored 330 runs in nine matches for Ponting's Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.

"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.

"He needs a bit of refinement with his batting.

"He almost stands like a baseballer all the time and he's got very much almost a single hitting plane that he's got to keep continually working on to keep opening up different areas of the ground."

The comparisons to Warner are, at least for now, completely unfair to the retired left-hander.

Warner averaged 45.30 in 161 ODI matches for Australia, and 33.43 from 110 Twenty20 internationals.

Warner delivered a blunt warning to his protegee after Fraser-McGurk was dismissed cheaply in November.

"We were talking about whether his game plan will change. Well it won't," Warner said.

"If you're not scoring runs, the solution to that is you're going to get dropped. That method he thinks is going to work for him, but sometimes you might have to tinker with that a little bit if you're not scoring runs."

To his credit, Fraser-McGurk is under no illusions in regards to his own form.

During a BBL game in January he spoke to host broadcaster Seven about his runs drought this summer.

"It is a bit disappointing... I'm trying everything I can, but when cricket's not going your way, it really doesn't go your way," he told Seven.

"This is a new level (of criticism)... you've done it around the world and more people are watching, more people are as disappointed as I am with how my form's been.

"It is obviously tough, 22 years old and you're copping it a fair bit from everywhere. But that's the way cricket goes.

"I've got confidence in myself that I'm a good player and can perform at this level."

Fraser-McGurk has a chance to redeem himself when Australia takes on Sri Lanka again on Friday night.

He will then head to the UAE and Pakistan with the squad for the Champions Trophy.