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.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!"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.
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