D'Arcy Short responds with runs to ODI snub

Short, the hard-hitting left-hand batsman, smashed 64 off 42 balls and was a livewire on the field as his side defeated Sydney Sixers by five wickets on Friday, 4 January. The knock took him to the top of the runs chart for the tournament this season.

His heroics came just hours after the Australian selectors left him out of the ODI squad for the three-match series against India. Explaining the decision, Trevor Hohns, the selector, had said, "Travis Head, Darcy Short and Chris Lynn have been unlucky to miss out. All three have had opportunities to cement their spots, but unfortunately, they have not been as productive as we would have liked in recent times when playing ODI cricket for Australia."

Speaking after the game, asked if the news of the squad had made for extra motivation, Short admitted: "A little bit."

He revealed that the selectors had asked him to work on facing spin bowling. "All I can do is keep scoring runs and score runs consistently and hopefully I get back in that way. That's what I'm going to work towards," he was quoted as saying on cricket.com.au.

"I spoke to [the selectors] the other day. It's the same [message]: just score runs consistently, find different ways against spin and keep being consistent."

Short has a top score of 47* in the four ODIs he's played so far, but a List A high score of 257, which he smashed with a record 23 sixes in the domestic one-day cup in September. He's been in good touch in the BBL, insisting, "I'm very happy with the way I'm hitting them."

Among those batting for Short to be in the squad is Shane Warne, who thinks the power he provides at the top is vital for Australia, especially going into a World Cup year. “He can bowl and his batting at the top is dynamic. He’s in terrific form, and he and Finch make an awesome partnership at the top,” Warne said during a commentary stint for Fox Sports.