IPL, national selection looms for Short

Hobart powerhouse D’Arcy Short "wouldn’t look out of place" in the Australian one-day line-up, according to Hurricanes teammate Dan Christian.

At the end of his fifth match in the purple in the ongoing KFC BBL season on Monday evening, Short was the competition’s leading run-scorer with 284 runs at 56.80 under his belt.

He was overtaken by the Renegades' veteran Cameron White shortly after – the Victorian now leading him by a single run having played one extra innings – but it's still been an incredibly strong start to BBL|07 for Short, whose runs have come at the impressive strike rate of 153.51.

The 27-year-old backed up consecutives scores in the nineties with a rapid-fire 42 from 36 against Sydney Sixers at Blundstone Arena on Monday night.

He fell shy of what would have been his third half-century of the season when he holed out to Sixers skipper Johan Botha at mid-off, but not before he blasted a 107m six that thundered into the press box balcony.

With Brisbane Heat superstar Chris Lynn ruled out of the Gillette ODI series against England with a calf complaint – an injury that will also keep him out of the Heat ranks for the next three weeks – a place has opened in Australia’s one-day squad ahead of Sunday’s opening match at the MCG.

The likes of recently axed ODI pair Glenn Maxwell and Pete Handscomb and experienced hands Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh are likely to lead the list of frontrunners to fill the sizeable hole left by Lynn.

But Short’s Big Bash run-spree could thrust the opening batsman - who also bowls handy left-arm wrist spin - into the sights of the national selectors.

"He wouldn’t look out of place," Christian said when asked about Short’s international potential.

"He’s hitting the ball beautifully, it’s a bit scaring bowling to him in the nets actually.

"Everything is just coming out of the middle of the bat.

"He’s pacing his innings really well too. He’s hitting the quicks up front in the first six and when the spin is on, he’s hitting it to his areas.

"He’s been fantastic for us."

Originally from the Northern Territory, Short plays most of his state cricket for Western Australia and he's has already captured the attention of several Australian greats.

Former Australia captain, Channel 10 commentator and new Delhi Daredevils coach Ricky Ponting said during Monday’s coverage that Short was very much on the radar of Indian Premier League franchises.

Former Test batsman and national selector Mark Waugh is also a fan of Short's, having predicted the hard-hitting Hurricane as a player to watch in BBL|07 prior to the start of the season.

And following Short’s 97 from 63 balls at Spotless Stadium against Sydney Thunder last week, spin legend Shane Warne predicted the left-hander would appear in national colours in the near future – as much for his bowling as his batting.

Even if Short is overlooked for more experienced candidates for the one-day vacancy, he is a strong chance to earn a call-up for February’s Gillette T20 International Tri-Series against England and New Zealand.

"If it happens, it happens," Short said last week when asked about the prospect of higher honours.

"I've just go to keep concentrating on my game, keep being consistent."

Short batted just three times for WA during the JLT One-Day Cup in October, but scored an unbeaten 119 from 92 deliveries against the CA XI in one of those innings.