Australia’s Champions Trophy semi-final preparations have been dealt a blow, with opener Matt Short unlikely to recover in time for next week’s crucial clash against either India or New Zealand.
Short suffered a quad injury while fielding during the rain-affected match against Afghanistan in Lahore on Friday. He later managed a brisk 20 off 15 balls but was visibly struggling to run between the wickets. After the game, captain Steve Smith admitted that the batter was facing a race against time to be fit for the semi-final.
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“I think he’ll be struggling,” Smith told Prime Video. “He wasn’t moving well tonight, and the turnaround between games is probably too quick for him to recover.”
Australia’s semi-final opponent and venue remain uncertain, with the team set to face either India in Dubai on Tuesday or New Zealand in Lahore on Wednesday. The final line-up will only be confirmed after Sunday’s Group A decider between India and New Zealand.
With Short’s absence, Australia will need to adjust their top order. Big-hitting Jake Fraser-McGurk is a strong candidate to replace him, though his recent ODI form in Sri Lanka raises concerns. All-rounder Aaron Hardie is another option, while Cooper Connolly could be drafted in as a travelling reserve if Short is ruled out of the tournament.
Short had been a key player for Australia, scoring a match-winning 63 against England in their record-breaking chase. Against Afghanistan, he looked in good touch again before rain halted play with Australia well on course for victory.
As Australia await clarity on their semi-final opponents, Short’s potential absence adds another challenge in their bid for a record-breaking third Champions Trophy title.
