Short bashing down the door to selection
MAN of the moment D’Arcy Short says he’s ready if Australian selectors call.
The left-hander, who played in his native Northern Territory until he was 19, struck a BBBL record 122 not out for Hobart on Wednesday night in a dramatic win against Brisbane.
With the knock following scores of 42, 96 and 97, Short has scored 406 runs – just six behind Shaun Marsh’s BBL season record.
Short is now in contention for an international limited-overs berth, with Hurricanes’ skipper George Bailey suggesting his selection in the Australian T20 side was a no-brainer.
“I think that is probably pretty self-explanatory, with two 90s and a 100,” he said.
“I’ve already spoken to Jun (chief Australian T20 selector Mark Waugh) a lot about D’Arcy. He’s big fan.”
Short will not take anything for granted but says he is ready if he gets the call.
“If it happens it happens, I’m not going to get my hopes up too much,” the 27-year-old said. “I’d definitely be nervous but I’d be ecstatic.”
A member of the WA Shield side, Warriors coach Justin Langer had demanded he lose weight and get serious about cricket when first appearing on the scene in his early 20s.
“Being more professional, watching what I eat, training a bit harder and putting a bit more intent into what I do,” Short said when asked to explain the transformation that helped him drop 15kg.
“Now I just try and keep still, watch the ball hard and not try to hit it too hard.”
Short played his junior cricket in Palmerston, about 20km outside of Darwin, where he was also a handy Aussie rules and baseball player.
He hopes his emergence can inspire others from NT to kick on with their careers.
“It definitely helps if they see someone else doing it and going further with it,” Short said.