All-rounder D’Arcy Short has been called-up by Australia for their forthcoming tour of India, replacing the injured Sean Abbott.
The short tour will see Australia play India in three ODIs, with the first being played in Mumbai on the 14th January. That will be followed by the second in Rajkot on 17th January, and the third, two days later, in Bengaluru.
Abbott, the 27 year old all-rounder from New South Wales, has been ruled out for four weeks after picking up a side strain playing for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League.
Short, who has played 4 ODIs and 20 T20is for Australia, is best known as an explosive batsman, although he can bowl wrist spin as well, giving his side another option if they choose mainly a pace attack. He has not played for his country for almost a year – his last appearance came in a T20I against India in February, but now he gets his chance to claim a place once more in the international set-up, with the World T20 Cup, which will be held next year in Australia, very much a target for the 29 year old left-hander.
He is not an unfamiliar name to Indian cricket followers either – he played a single season for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL in 2018.
Australia last toured India for an ODI series before this year’s World Cup, and stunned the hosts by recovering from losing the first two matches, to win the series 3 – 2. Two men, very familiar to Indian audiences, David Warner and Steve Smith, were missing from that tour because they were serving their ban from international cricket imposed on them for their part in the infamous ball tampering row in South Africa. However, they are set to return in January, strengthening the Australian batting order controversy.
Local fans will also get the chance to see the renowned Australian bowling attack, amongst who will be Pat Cummins, the number one rated test bowler, and the man who was bought for a record Rs. 15 .5 crore by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2020 IPL Auction.
It promises to be a hotly contested series.
