Episode three of our video series Crossing Boundaries is with Australian opening batter Matthew Short.
Short, 27, signed as an injury replacement for Josh Philippe and ha made an instant impact on-and-off the pitch as a popular member of the dressing room and with 80 off 50 balls against Texas Super Kings.
Short was named player-of-the-tournament in the most recent Big Bash competition, scoring over 400 runs and taking 11 wickets for the Adelaide Strikers. A series of performances that earned him a deal with the Punjab Kings in IPL 2023.
Growing up in Ballarat, Australia, Short was more focused on Australian Rules Football, but through countless games of backyard cricket with his elder and younger brother, his love and ability of the sport grew in equal measure, before it eventually became time to move down to Melbourne upon signing with Cricket Victoria.
“I never thought as a youngster I’d be over in America playing cricket,” said Short. “I feel very lucky for the opportunity, that’s for sure.”
Short’s career has taken off in the last 18 months, after two fantastic seasons in the BBL that was spurred by a move to the top of the order. Not only has Short found his feet in T20 cricket, but experienced a return to form in the four-day game for Victoria, scoring two centuries in the 2022/23 season of the Sheffield Shield.
“When I was first contracted at Victoria, there was a lot of hype and I think it took a good four or five years where things kind of halted a little bit. I was consistently, kind of okay.
“I guess from that bit of faith that they [Adelaide Strikers] showed in me to put me at the top of the order, things have really taken off. I always knew that if I kept playing cricket, kept putting my name out there then hopefully something would come up.”