D’Arcy takes short cut on his road to stardom

D’ARCY Short will become only the fourth indigenous man to play cricket for Australia tonight in a debut that ranks as one of the most anticipated in recent seasons.

Test great Mark Waugh has already compared Short with captain David Warner, and there is a possibility the explosive rags-to-riches pair could open together against New Zealand at the SCG. Short was batting at No. 9 for Western Australia in their last Sheffield Shield match, but from relative obscurity he has produced one of the most remarkable ascensions to international cricket.

The spotlight is on Cricket Australia for this Twenty20 tri-series following the resting of so many stars.

But 27-year-old Short from the Northern Territory now has a chance to announce him- self as the country’s newest superstar, much like Warner did on debut against South Africa in 2009.

Aaron Finch was yesterday scratched with a hamstring injury, meaning either Short or Brisbane Heat bash brother Chris Lynn will open alongside Warner.

However, even if Short is shifted down the order he is certain to play the opener against the Black Caps in Syd- ney and join Jason Gillespie, Dan Christian and Scott Boland as the only indigenous male players to represent their country.

Short, who has smashed 504 runs at 56 in 10 BBL matches for the Hobart Hurricanes this season, recently opened up on the importance of his indigenous heritage.

There is a mixture of Warner and Steve Smith in Short’s journey to the top.

As with Warner, Short is a clean striker of the ball who has the opportunity to make a name for himself in Twenty20 cricket, after recently pocketing a $700,000 IPL contract.

The similarities with Smith come from the fact Short has been picked as a spinner who bats in the lower order in Shield cricket, but has the potential to prove he is good enough to develop into an outand-out batsman.