BBL sensation D'Arcy Short sets sights on Test cricket

Australia opening batsman and all-rounder, D’Arcy Short, who has been a revelation in this season’s BBL revealed he wants to follow in David Warner’s footsteps and morph from a short-form weapon to a Test cricketer. Short’s stunning BBL exploits ended with the Player of the Tournament award. However, he failed to carry his franchise to the title win as the Hobart Hurricanes lost Sunday’s final to the Adelaide Strikers.

Short’s prodigious BBL run-scoring has also earnt him an Australian Twenty20 debut, exactly the way Warner broke into international ranks. But Short doesn’t want to be limited to the shorter format and fancies plying his trade in red-ball cricket. According to Australia.com.au, the 27-year-old was quoted saying, “I aspire to play Test cricket … it’s definitely a dream to play Test cricket.”

His Hobart captain and former Australia T20 skipper George Bailey also acknowledged the all-rounder’s ambitions. “Absolutely,” Bailey said. “What you’re seeing with all these young guys now, technically they’re all fine, it’s as much a mindset. It’s that ability to change your mindset and your tempo when you go through the different formats.”

Short lands himself a lucrative IPL deal

Following his success in the BBL, the 27-year-old has landed himself a deal in the cash-rich IPL. Short finished as the highest run scorer of the recently-concluded BBL edition with 572 runs in 11 innings at with a smashing average of 57.2.

The Australian was swooped up by Rajasthan Royals for ₹4 crore although his base price was a paltry ₹20 lacs. Both Delhi Daredevils and the Royals were keen on getting his services but Delhi pulled out after the base price had gone up by 20 times. Some of Short’s recent blitz include scores of 96, 97 and 122* in the Big Bash and he can be expected to carry on with the same form for the Royals.

Short is aware of the challenge he will have to face in India and is even prepared to welcome the criticism if he fails to score big runs given the big money Rajasthan Royals have spent on him.