All-round Short turns Warne's head

D'Arcy Short's man-of-the-match performance for Hobart Hurricanes on Monday night has Test legend Shane Warne believing the allrounder is set for a national call-up in the near future.

Short hammered 97 from 63 balls at Spotless Stadium last night, a knock that included nine fours and four sixes to power the Hurricanes to their first win of this summer's KFC Big Bash League.

But it wasn't the 26-year-old's pyrotechnics with the bat that caught the eye of Warne.

Short is also an established left-arm wrist-spinner, a type of bowler Warne is naturally drawn to.

"Just switched on the tv & watching Darcy Short bowl left-arm leggies, very impressive," Warne tweeted.

"He looks like a cricketer that we will be seeing in Aussie colours shortly @juniorwaugh349 !!!"

Short considers himself a genuine allrounder and that claim was justified when he was called upon by Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors as a specialist spinner in the JLT Sheffield Sheild.

He said he has all the tricks of a class wrist-spinner, such as a googly and top-spinner, and has picked up six wickets in the four-day game for WA.

Warne's tweet included former Test teammate and national selector Mark Waugh, who was on hand to watch the Short show commentating for Channel 10 Sport.

Waugh is another fan of Short's, having predicted the hard-hitting Hurricane as the BBL|07 player of the tournament prior to the season commencing.

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

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

The Hurricanes gave Short an opportunity last season and while he managed just 198 runs in eight innings, his strike rate of 163.64 was up there with competition's master blasters.

The 27-year-old started this summer with a century for WA in the JLT One-Day Cup but what followed was a series of starts in the JLT Sheffield Shield without posting a big score.

His 97 last night succeeded scores of 34 and 14 for Hobart in the BBL, a sign he can kick on once he gets set in the shortest version of the game.

Short scored two half-centuries last season – 61 and 60 – and says putting a higher price on his wicket is paying dividends.

"Putting a bit more pressure on myself and more emphasis on my wicket," Short said when asked what's been the difference in his batting this BBL season.

"Trying to bat longer and deeper into the 20 overs and trying to get us off to a good start."

Should Warne's prophecy come true, Short would likely feature in Australia's T20 team against England and New Zealand later this month.

Australia boast the powerful opening combination of David Warner and Aaron Finch in both formats, but Short's explosive hitting would be useful anywhere in the top seven, not to mention his ability with the ball.

Short can push his case for national selection again when Hobart take on Adelaide Strikers at home on Thursday.