Australian cricketer Matt Short has been selected for the preliminary 15-man squad for the 2024 Twenty20 World Cup, set to take place in Sri Lanka and India in February. This marks a significant milestone in Short’s career, as he aims to make his World Cup debut alongside fellow newcomers Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, and Matthew Kuhnemann.
At 30 years old, Short has already established himself as a formidable player, having played 21 Twenty20 internationals and 18 One Day Internationals for Australia. He was recently honored as the 2024 Ballarat Sportsman of the Year, a recognition of his contributions to cricket at both the national and club levels. His journey began with the Melbourne Renegades before he became a key player for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL).
Short’s BBL career has been marked by impressive performances, including his maiden century in early 2023 during a record chase of 230 runs against the Hobart Hurricanes. That season, he was named the player of the tournament, showcasing consistent excellence on the field. Following this success, he secured a contract with the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a replacement for Jonny Bairstow.
His rapid ascent continued as he claimed his second consecutive player-of-the-tournament award in the BBL, leading the run charts with 541 runs, nearly 200 ahead of his closest competitor. Short made his T20 International debut against South Africa in August 2023, impressively scoring 66 runs off just 30 balls in his second match. He followed this with his One Day International debut in September, where his performance helped him secure a more consistent spot in the national lineup.
Australia’s T20 team has recently enjoyed significant success, winning 14 of their last 16 international matches. Despite a strong track record, the team has faced challenges in past World Cups, having been eliminated in the group stages during the 2022 and 2024 tournaments. The 2022 campaign was particularly disappointing, as Australia was the host nation and poor weather, along with a low net run rate, dashed their hopes of advancing.
George Bailey, chairman of selectors, expressed confidence in the squad’s balance, stating, “The T20 side has enjoyed a long run of recent success, which enabled the panel to choose a balance of players across the variety of conditions Sri Lanka and India may present.” He emphasized that this is a preliminary squad, indicating that adjustments may be made before the tournament begins.
In the group stages of the tournament, Australia will face formidable opponents, including Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Oman. As anticipation builds for the World Cup, Short’s inclusion in the squad adds to the excitement surrounding Australia’s campaign. His journey from Ballarat to the global stage highlights the potential for emerging talent in Australian cricket.
