SPORT Short embracing shot at redemption in WA
EIGHT years ago, D’Arcy Short showed just how far he could go as a cricketer.
The then 18-year-old made 196 from 197 balls for Palmerston against Waratah in the Darwin Premier Grade.
He batted for less than four hours and hit 28 fours and two sixes.
Three-and-a-half years later, in late 2011, he made his debut for the Western Warriors in a one-dayer against New South Wales at the SCG.
Territory product Short only made three in that game but took 2-14 with his left-arm orthodox spinners, including the prized wicket of established Australian batsman Simon Katich.
After a five-year wait, Short is now a good chance of adding to his one and only senior domestic cricket game.
Included in the Warriors’ 14-man squad, he has made a firm case for inclusion in the match-day 11 against South Australia in the opening round of this year’s Matador Cup at the WACA Ground today.
The 26-year-old was not in WA’s plans a week or two ago.
But he scored an unbeaten century at the top of the order, then claimed four wickets with his left-arm wrist spin to rout Victoria in a practice match at the WACA this week.
Short and Josh Nicholas have replaced Ashton Agar (shoulder) and Shaun Marsh (finger) respectively in the WA squad. It could well be a case of redemption for Short, after Warriors coach Justin Langer told him he had heard too many reports that he was too fat and lazy when he first made the Western Australian ranks.
Nowadays, Short is a changed man – he bowls leftarm chinamen and appears to be in much better shape.
He’s certainly always had talent, though, as he showed eight years ago with his stunning innings for Palmerston.
“I came back from injury – about six to eights weeks out with a sore shoulder in that game – and just wanted to spend some time in the middle,” Short told the NT News.
“I hadn’t played for a while but it all worked out.”
Short made his way over to Western Australia in the 2010-11 season to play for Gosnells after receiving an invitation to play in the WA Under-23 Futures League team.
The personal trainer has not looked back, hitting six first-grade hundreds and is a handy spinner when needed.
“I’m very excited to be in the WA squad and I’ve worked quite hard to get back here,” Short said.