Australia opener eager to fill David Warner's slot in white-ball cricket
Matthew Short is looking to lock in his place as Australia’s limited-overs opener, with the series against Pakistan offering him just the right opportunity.
He may not have been able to make a mark with the bat in a low-scoring thriller against Pakistan in the first ODI, but Matthew Short will continue to bank on an ‘aggressive’ brand of cricket to help him solidify his place as Australia’s opener.
With David Warner having retired from international cricket, and Travis Head on a paternity leave, Short finds himself vying for the permanent spot alongside 22-year-old Jake Fraser-McGurk in the ongoing series against Pakistan.
"I came into this series with high aspirations to try to cement my spot in the team," Short told reporters on Tuesday.
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The southpaw was Australia's leading run-scorer with 535 runs at an average of 48.63.
"I'm going to go out there and keep trying to be positive and play aggressive cricket. It should pay off at some stage."
Short, who made his debut for Australia - both ODI and T20I - last year, has also featured in the middle order, but was given a go at the top during the multi-format tour of England back in September. It was a move that saw the 28-year-old score a match-winning 58 off 30 in the five-ODI series decider.
Against Pakistan in the series opener on Monday, Short lasted only four deliveries and was claimed off an attempted pull shot off Shaheen Shah Afridi, shortly followed by the dismissal of Fraser-McGurk.
But the right-handed opener shares that the Australian team management has given the opening duo the green flag to continue with their explosive brand of cricket.
"The coaching staff give us both the licence to be free and play our shots. Batting with Travis Head as well, if he goes (off) then I let him go and I do my thing.
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Australia chased down the India total by the 43rd over mark.
"It's similar with Jake. It probably didn't come off last night for him, like myself, but if he is seeing and hitting them well then I probably won't say much to him and just let him go. And just focus more on myself.”
Despite the low returns from the openers, Australia were able to chase down 204 with two wickets in hand as Pakistan offered an intense contest with the ball - using short deliveries to turn the tide in their favour.
Going into the second ODI in Adelaide on Friday, however, Short believes Pakistan may have to rethink on the aforementioned tactic.
“We saw Pakistan's tactics [in Melbourne] bowling pretty short. But I think they may have to change that a little bit at this ground with the shorter square boundaries which are the complete opposite to the 'G. It's always a nice ground to bat on."