Short's baggy green dream

Australian and West Australian all-rounder D’Arcy Short believes he has what it takes to play for his country in the longest form of the game.

Speaking on Sports Drive on Tuesday, the powerful left-handed batsman and useful left arm chinaman bowler said he still harbours ambitions to win a baggy green cap, having already represented in Australia in white ball cricket.

“Every young kid’s dream is to wear a baggy green, that’s still a dream that I have at the age of 29,” Short said.

“I’d be silly not to give myself a chance to do that especially over the next couple of years, to see if I can get to that level. I feel like I can, I just need to get a couple of games under my belt and be consistent when I get those opportunities.”

Short believes he could emulate the career of David Warner, who began his career pigeonholed as a white ball cricketer before making the ascent to Test cricket, where he now has made 24 Test hundreds at an average of almost 50.

However, Short said he felt he could make an impact at first class and eventually Test level regardless of whether he batted at the top of the order or as a middle order batsman.

“To be honest I’m not really fussed where I bat in the order, I feel like I can do a role for the team where they see fit,” he said.

“I guess middle order is better suited for me, but I’m happy to take on the challenge at the top of the order and perhaps bowl a little bit too.”

Short has only played 14 first class matches since his Sheffield Shield debut in November 2016, averaging 26.16 with the bat and 34.10 with the ball, splitting his time between opening the batting and playing as an all-rounder batting at six or seven.

Short has made his name domestically in the shorter forms of the game in recent years, dominant at the top of the order for the Hobart Hurricanes since joining the side in BBL06.

His success with the ball has made him a dangerous all-round option in limited overs cricket, taking a five wicket haul last summer for the Hurricanes against the Sydney Thunder.

Short was set to be a part of Australia’s World T20 squad later this year before the tournament was postponed earlier this month, but was named in the 26 man training group for the potential ODI tour of England in September.

Short said he would have no qualms in travelling despite the risks associated with COVID-19.

“I think we are taking all precautions. I think we’re only going to go if all preventative measures are taken for our health and safety within the group,” he said.

“No real reservations from me, I would just be excited to get back out there and play some cricket.”

Short had an offer on the table to move to Tasmania during the off-season and play all three formats in the apple isle but said the lure of home and family kept him in the West.

“I definitely entertained it, it was a decent offer to go over there and ply my trade in all three forms to get a start and to try and prove myself. But home is where I wanted to be, in the end I didn’t want to leave WA,” he said.

“I love playing for Western Australia, it probably sold me that way. I didn’t really want to be spending any more time away from family then I already do.”

Short has one more season remaining on his contract with the Hurricanes, and has had previous Indian Premier League experience with Rajasthan Royals in 2018.

The 2020 IPL has been rescheduled to start on September 19th and run through until November 8th in the UAE, and while Short wasn’t picked up in the player auction earlier this year, he is open to the possibility of linking up with a franchise should an opportunity present, despite the tournament being on a collision course with the Australian domestic season.

“I would definitely have to think about it, it’s somewhere where I want to go back to, to try and redeem the slump I had in my first season there,” he said.

“I’d like to get back to it and showcase some of my white ball skill over there.”

The pre-season continues for the Western Australian men’s and women’s cricket teams, with fixtures for first class and one day fixtures still to be released.

IMAGE: India Today.