SHORT THE NEXT WARNER
NEXT BIG THING
D’ARCY Short says he is nervous but ready if Australian selectors call, after the Hobart star’s latest monster Big Bash League knock.
The left-hander, who played in his native Northern Territory until he was 19, struck a BBL record 122 not out on Wednesday night in a dramatic win against Brisbane.
Short, whose destructive batting has been likened to David Warner’s sudden emergence a decade ago, has scored 122 not out, 42, 96 and 97 in his past four BBL knocks and has 406 runs — six shy of Shaun Marsh’s BBL season record, with Short having batted in three fewer innings.
Cameron White’s return to the Australian one-day squad means he has missed his first shot at an international debut.
But the left-hander remains a frontrunner for an international T20 berth later this summer, with Hurricanes skipper George Bailey suggesting his selection is a nobrainer.
“I think that is probably pretty self explanatory, with two 90s and a 100,” Bailey said.
“I’ve already spoken to Jun (chief Australian T20 selector Mark Waugh) a lot about D’Arcy — he’s a big fan.”
Short won’t take anything for granted but says he is best-placed now to perform at the next level.
“If it happens, it happens. I’m not going to get my hopes up too much,” the 27-year-old said.
“There’s definitely not (a better time); I’d definitely be nervous but I’d be ecstatic.”
Short has been challenged by Hobart coach Gary Kirsten to bat through the innings, while his Western Australia mentor 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 Australian rules and baseball player. He hopes his emergence can inspire others from the Northern Territory to kick on with their careers.
“It definitely helps if they see someone else doing it and going further with it,” Short said.
“(South Australian and Melbourne Renegades quick) Kane Richardson’s another one who’s done it; hopefully, they can believe in themselves and go further.”
It further clouds Glenn Maxwell’s place in the pecking order after the Victorian was again snubbed by national selectors in Australia’s one-day squad, with White earning a shock recall to replace the injured Chris Lynn.
White was yesterday added to the 14-man squad to face England in the fivematch ODI series starting in Melbourne on Sunday.
The 34-year-old has not represented Australia in any format since last being picked for the ODI side in January 2015.
While his domestic form has been strong, White’s recall is all the more surprising given he was involved in a spat with national chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns last summer.
White suggested at the time that the Australian side was being treated as a “development team”.
Hohns hit back, describing White’s international career as “nothing earthshattering”.
The chief selector yesterday said White’s form in the Big Bash had been impossible to overlook. “He’s in very good form as his figures demonstrate, he’s playing very well,” Hohns said.