‘I hope ‘Short’ will not be ‘short’ of runs’ – Fans upbeat as Matthew Short replaces Jonny Bairstow in Punjab ahead of Indian T20 League
Punjab suffered a big blow before the start of the Indian T20 League as star batter Jonny Bairstow was ruled out due to injury. Punjab have decided to fill the void by replacing him with Matthew Short. The man from Australia has runs in the Big Bash League. Short can also chip in as a part-time spin option.
In the Big Bash League, he has scored 1409 at an average of 23.88 and at a strike rate of 136. The right-hander has scored seven fifties and one hundred. He will probably bat at the top of the order for the franchise. Short was the Player of the Tournament in the recently concluded BBL and was the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 458 runs at an average of 35.23 while striking at 144.47.
Punjab will be led by Shikhar Dhawan in this season of Indian T20 League
Short showed what he was made of when he crafted an unbeaten 100 in a chase of 230 to win against Hobart Hurricanes. He is very quick on the field. Short also is a part-time off-spinner and has kept his head high while bowling in the powerplay. He has taken 11 wickets at an economy of 7.13 during the BBL. Short has played all formats. Short scored three hundreds across first-class and List-A cricket in the latter half of Australia’s domestic season. The right-hander plays his cricket in Victoria in Australia.
Short last played for the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL. As for Bairstow, he will make a comeback from injury through County Cricket in Yorkshire. Towards the end of February, Bairstow trained after he got injured in September 2022. Punjab have communicated to the Indian Cricket Board about the replacement.
Punjab have not won a title in the Indian T20 League. The franchise made it to the finals in 2014 where they lost to Kolkata. In 2008 they had a good season as well. Punjab have not had the best of seasons in recent times. They will be led by Shikhar Dhawan this season who will replace Mayank Aggarwal.
Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:
Good option.. bowling v karta hain..
Livingstone bhanuka rabada to fixed hain. May be @SRazaB24 ko jyada chance de @PunjabKingsIPL— Abhinav singh (@Abhinav_tmk) March 25, 2023
Good opener + spin option
— Abhinav (@Abhinav20011) March 25, 2023
Another BBL fraud or is he really good ?
— Rohit (@imr0hit_) March 25, 2023
Short player in Short team 😏
— 𝐕𝐈𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈 𝗦𝗨𝗬𝗔𝗦𝗛 (@VirMessiSuyash) March 25, 2023
Bhai ye bbl vale idr nhi chlenge ek D arcy short bhi aaya tha usne bhi kuch nhi ukhada😂
— Prashant (@Prash45_) March 25, 2023
Make Him Captain @PunjabKingsIPL 👌 He Is A Better Captain Than Shikhar Dhawan 👍
— Oggy 😽 (@SirOggyBilla) March 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/ParamSh10733348/status/1639595277282856960?s=20
short can play some long innings
— Believer (@shwetabh146) March 25, 2023
He is a Wonderful leg side player 💥
— Name_can't be blank_ (@PylaManoj10) March 25, 2023
— OnlyIPLfan (@OnJishnu) March 25, 2023
