COACH STANDS BY SHORT
HURRICANES coach Adam Griffith has unwavering confidence in D’Arcy Short, adamant that by the end of the Big Bash his slow start to the tournament will be a distant memory.
Hobart’s linchpin has endured a torrid first half to the 2020- 21 campaign, scoring just 122 runs at 15.25 in eight trips to the crease, including five single- figure scores.
Short’s only contribution of substance was 72 against the Adelaide Strikers in game two, when he scratched his way to 38 from 40 balls before exploding in one Rashid Khan over to take the champion spinner for 24 runs.
Daniel Worrall also dropped a simple chance at fine leg when Short top- edged a hook shot when he had just 23 runs to his name in a telling let- off. The destructive left- hander, who has led the Hurricanes’ BBL run- scoring for three consecutive seasons and was backto- back player of the tournament in 2017- 18 and 18- 19, hasn’t looked completely out of touch, but hasn’t been able to get out of first gear.
However, before the side’s clash with the Sydney Thunder at Optus Stadium on Thursday night — a venue where Short scored an unbeaten 103 in his last start — Griffith refused to be concerned about his form.
“He’s a legend of the Hurricanes, he’ll find a way,” Griffith said. “He’s batting well in the nets, we’re only halfway through the tournament and I’ve got a funny feeling by the end of the tournament we won’t even remember his start because he’ll be banging them.
“No issues there, it’s just around the corner for him. He’s going through a bit of a rough patch but you wouldn’t know it talking to him.”
The Hurricanes fell 10 runs short of overhauling the Melbourne Stars’ 183 on Monday afternoon, but Griffith saw glimpses of the wheel turning for the batting group.
Aside from the in- form Ben McDermott’s brilliant 91, Dawid Malan ( 26) looked more fluent, while stand- in skipper Peter Handscomb ( 21 from nine balls) also produced his best knock in purple.
“A lot to like … I thought our batting group finally got going in a real positive way,” Griffith said. “It’s great to see ‘ Reggie’ [ McDermott] get that big score, was great to see Pete get some out of the middle towards the end, so there are some real positives out of it.
“There’s only been probably a couple of occasions where he’s had an opportunity to bat for time and he hasn’t quite got it, but he’s still played some good cricket shots and looked in good form.
“We saw he went out from ball one and smacked them, so that’s a really good sign for him”
HE’S BATTING WELL IN THE NETS, WE’RE ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE TOURNAMENT AND I’VE GOT A FUNNY FEELING BY THE END OF THE TOURNAMENT WE WON’T EVEN REMEMBER HIS START BECAUSE HE’LL BE BANGING THEM.
ADAM GRIFFITH ON D’ARCY SHORT ( BOTH PICTURED LEFT)