VICTORIAN all-rounder Matt Short will play in a Cricket Australia XI for this summer’s top domestic one-day series.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The inaugural CA XI squad aims to fast-track emerging players who have already had a taste of high-level cricket. Ballarat’s Short made his List A debut with Victorian Bushrangers in the Matador One-Day Cup last summer and with Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League. Short joined the Bushrangers’ 14-man pre-season tour squad earlier this month.
The 19-year-old is one of six players in the CA XI squad with List A experience and one of 12 players with international experience with the Australian under-19s. South Australian all-rounder Alex Gregory will captain the team, which becomes the seventh outfit contesting the Cup this summer.
Cricket Australia national talent manager Greg Chappell said the CA XI concept offered promising players more exposure to domestic cricket and strengthen the pathway for state squad rookies. States were encouraged to sign up their young talent and Chappell expected the team to be competitive.
“There will be some familiar names from having played a little bit of first class cricket or a little bit of 50-over cricket for their state previously,” Chappell said. “They are the ones the public can start looking at with the view to perhaps watching them grow over the next few years, get into their state sides and hopefully go on to represent Australia.”
Chappell said Short would play an important role in the team as an exciting all-round talent: a right-hand top-order batsman, spin bowler and athletic fielder. Short is one of two Victorians in the CA XI, joining batsman Seb Gotch, who has been part of a CA XI Twenty20 team to play a tour match against South Africa. They collide with Victoria on October 9.
Short is also set to rejoin the Renegades for a third season this summer and his second as a full-fledged player. He played two BBL games last season, making his debut against Perth Scorchers at the WACA on Boxing Day.
National cricket centre head coach Troy Cooley and former England international Graeme Hick, an Australian Under-19 coach, are preparing the CA XI for its opening Cup game against New South Wales on October 5.
CA XI:Alex Gregory (SA), Sam Heazlett, James Pierson, Jack Wildermuth, James Bazley, Mitch Swepson (QLD), Ben McDermott (TAS), Seb Gotch, Matthew Short (VIC), Liam Hatcher (NSW), Riley Ayre (ACT/NSWC), Jhye Richardson, Hilton Cartwright, Matthew Dixon (WA).