“Australia’s Short Eyes Warner’s Vacant Spot”

“Australia’s Short Eyes Warner’s Vacant Spot”, Matt Short has thrown down the gauntlet in the race to fill David Warner’s opening batting slot in Australia’s white-ball sides following Jake Fraser-McGurk’s disappointing series against Scotland.

Short blasted 41 off 26 balls against England and shared a blistering opening partnership with Travis Head as Australia won the first Twenty20 by a comfortable 28 runs in Southampton.

Short missed the Scotland series for the birth of his first child but was glad to slot in and perform against England.

“Obviously, with Davey Warner out, you sort of know that the spot’s opened up.

“But then Jake Fraser-McGurk has been playing the last few games in Scotland, so you never know where you sit.

“But I’m glad I sort of took that opportunity tonight and played my role to help the team with a win tonight.”

Short missed out on a place in Australia’s squad at the T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies, and the Southampton match was his first T20I since February.

“It’s a personal sort of goal of mine. I’ve been in and out of the side recently over the last 12-18 months,” said the Ballarat-born batter.

“Now Dave is out, I’m really trying to take this opportunity and cement my spot in this side.”

Head coach Andrew McDonald has said selectors were still weighing up the merits of retaining Smith as an opener for the five-test series against India in the home summer.

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