AUSTRALIA under-19 cricketer Jake Fraser-McGurk has had to leave the World Cup early so he can receive treatment after being scratched in the face by a monkey.
The incident happened during a team outing at a nature reserve and now the the 17-year-old will head back to Australia for treatment.
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.”
Alex Kountouris, Cricket Australia’s Sports Science and Sports Medicine Manager, said: “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.
“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.”
Australia were knocked out by India in the quarter-finals on Tuesday but still have to play two more matches to determine their ranking at the next Under-19 World Cup.
It is not yet known if they will call in a replacement for Fraser-McGurk.
Fraser-McGurk was run out for a duck during Tuesday’s quarter-final and looks set to miss the remaining two fixtures.
The defeat denied Australia the chance of going for a fourth title and a first since 2010.
India’s win means they will face either Pakistan or Afghanistan in the semi-final, while Australia can now, at best, finish fifth.
