Australian batting young gun Jake Fraser-McGurk is heading home from South Africa after being attacked by a monkey.

Fraser-McGurk, 17, one of the country's brightest young batting talents, was scratched on the face by the monkey while visiting a nature reserve near Kimberley on a team outing last Thursday following a match during the under-19 World Cup, taking place in the country.

Scratched: Jake Fraser-McGurk. Credit:Getty Images

While he was well enough to play in Australia's quarter-final loss to India on Tuesday night, Cricket Australia has decided to send him back to Australia as a precaution, meaning he will miss Australia's consolation game against Afghanistan or Pakistan on Sunday.

CA explained that Fraser-McGurk was advised to have treatment in Australia within seven days of the incident.