BALLARAT rising cricket star Matt Short will play for Australia in next month's ICC under-19 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
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He learned of his selection late last week ahead of today's public team announcement by Cricket Australia.
Short from East Ballarat in the Ballarat Cricket Association and now playing with Northcote in Victorian Premier Cricket, has enjoyed a meteoric rise in cricket career this season.
Having previously represented Australia in under-19 internationals in Australia and New Zealand, Short is also a development player with Victorian Bushrangers and "Big Bash" twenty20 team Melbourne Renegades.
The 15-player squad also features Ben McDermott, a son of former Australian fast-bowler and Test bowling coach Craig McDermott, who is playing for the Prime Minister's XI against England today.
Cricket Australia national talent manager Greg Chappell said the under-19 World Cup was a wonderful opportunity for the country's best young talent to perform on the international stage, following in the footsteps of players like Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson, who had previously taken the field for Australia in the youth World Cup.
Chappell said Short would have a dual role.
"Tom Andrews is our specialist spinner and will be supported by top-order batsmen Matthew Short and Kelvin Smith, who each bowl quality off-spin," he said.
Squad: Thomas Andrews (NT), Ben Ashkenazi (Vic), James Bazley (Qld), Jake Doran (NSW), Matthew Fotia (Vic), Alex Gregory (SA), Benjamin McDermott (Qld), Jaron Morgan (WA), Damien Mortimer (NSW), Matthew Short (Vic), Kelvin Smith (SA), Billy Stanlake (Qld), Cameron Valente (SA), Guy Walker (Vic), Sean Willis (Tas),
Australia's group fixtures:
Saturday, February 15: Australia v Namibia at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, February 17: Australia v Afghanistan at Abu Dhabi Oval 2
Wednesday, February 19:: Australia v Bangladesh at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi