Australia’s cricket selectors have announced the preliminary 15-man squad for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, with Matt Short from Ballarat making the cut. The tournament is set to take place in Sri Lanka and India in February 2024. This marks a significant milestone for Short, who has participated in 21 T20 internationals and 18 one-day internationals for Australia.
Short is one of four players poised to make their World Cup debut, joining Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, and Matthew Kuhnemann. The squad appears to be tailored for spin-friendly conditions, reflecting a strategic approach to the diverse playing environments in the host nations.
Impressive Career Trajectory
At 30 years old, Short has established himself as a key player for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL), having made his debut with the team in the 2018-19 season after three years with the Melbourne Renegades. Over his BBL career, he has participated in 86 innings with an average of just under 30 runs. His breakthrough came during the 2021-22 season when he took on the role of opener, significantly enhancing his profile.
In early 2023, Short made headlines by scoring his maiden BBL century in a record chase of 230 runs against the Hobart Hurricanes. His outstanding performance that season earned him the title of player of the tournament. Shortly thereafter, he secured his first Indian Premier League (IPL) contract with the Punjab Kings, stepping in as an injury replacement for Jonny Bairstow.
Short continued his impressive form by winning his second consecutive player-of-the-tournament award in the BBL, amassing 541 runs—nearly 200 runs ahead of the next-best player. He made his T20I debut against South Africa in August 2023, scoring 66 runs off just 30 balls in his second match.
Building Momentum for the World Cup
His One Day International (ODI) debut followed in September 2023, and by 2024, he found a more consistent place in the national setup. He was also part of the squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he scored his first ODI half-century in a victory against England. Short had previously been named a reserve player for Australia’s 2024 T20 World Cup campaign.
Australia’s recent T20 performance has been strong, securing 14 wins in their last 16 matches. Nonetheless, the team has faced challenges in past World Cups, having been eliminated in the group stages in both 2022 and 2024, with the latter being particularly disappointing due to adverse weather conditions and a poor net run rate.
George Bailey, the chairman of selectors, emphasized 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 confirmed that this is a preliminary squad and changes could be made ahead of the support period.
Australia’s group stage matches will include matchups against Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Oman, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting tournament.
