He has so far played 8 ODIs and 20 T20Is for Australia.
Australia’s swashbuckling batsman D’Arcy Short has admitted that the pressure of expectations has bogged him down in the past, as he couldn’t grab and make the most of the opportunities he got with the national side since debuting in 2018.
Short averages 30.14 and 32.88 respectively in 8 ODIs and 20 T20Is that he so far played for Australia. However, the 29-year-old has insisted that the tag of being a limited over cricketer doesn’t bother him despite having not done his reputation any good with the given chances, as he is determined to prove himself in the red-ball cricket by backing himself in the format.
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Short was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au: “I don’t think it’s an unfair view, it’s just what people have seen. I definitely back myself in red-ball cricket as well. I just haven’t taken my opportunities as well as I could have or should have in the games that I’ve played.”
He further added, “The pressure of wanting to do well and keep my spot plays on my mind a bit as well. I know I can do it, it’s just about putting it together in a game.”
Meanwhile, Short, who averages 26.16 in the 14 First-Class games that he has played for Western Australia in Shield cricket, said his half-century that he scored against Australian fast bowlers against New South Wales has given him a lot of confidence to do well in the format.
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The Aussie opener said: “I think I slowly proved that last year. Against NSW, I opened the batting against a Test attack and got fifty and batted for a fair amount of time (164 balls). I got a fair bit of confidence out of that. It’s just about putting a big score on the board when I get a chance.”
I’ve probably tried to change things too much (in the past) instead of just keeping it simple as I do in the white-ball game. It’s just the little things; knowing which balls to play at, being decisive in my shot selection, and making sure I’m getting my hands through the ball.
He signed off by saying, “... it’s something that I’ve been working on in the pre-season, my red-ball cricket. (I’m) trying to show that I can do it and trying to get my opportunities when I am available. It was very enticing in terms of the opportunities that I could have got (in Tasmania).”But I felt like if I stayed here and put in a full pre-season, I can play all formats here as well. That was a challenge for me; I know I can do that here and this is where I want to try and do it.”
(With cricket.com.au Inputs)