Matt Short speaks on his captivating rise to Australian selection

A piece of advice from an Aussie great, a bold request to another and taking every opportunity that has come his way. Matt Short talks us through his rise from Ballarat to Australian selection.

Matt Short.

A piece of advice from an Australian great is resonating in the spectacular rise of Matt Short.

Before his growth through the Victorian and Big Bash League ranks, a budding Short spent four winters under the tutelage of Test legend Greg Chappell.

It was there that Chappell encouraged Short to adopt the same uber-positive approach that netted him so much success.

Guided by Chappell’s method, as well as advice, opportunity and hard work along the way, Short has earned a spot in the Australian T20 squad for the upcoming series against South Africa.

“There’s one thing that sticks out,” Short recalled of his time with Chappell.

“He mentioned that when he was playing back in the day, and we all know how good he was, that he looked to hit every ball for four.

“And then if it wasn’t there in his zone, he would just back himself to play it normally and not get out.

“That’s the mindset I have taken from him – that positivity at the crease, actually looking to score, looking to hit a boundary rather than being a sitting duck.

“That’s something I have taken from him and it works well with my game, taking the positive option, looking to be busy, score and to attack.

“He has helped me a lot in the psych area rather than the technique or physical aspect.

“He was massive in getting me mentally right, what you should or shouldn’t think of – he was massive in my early days.”

Short taking a strong hand to the WA attack last summer. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The right-hander’s bashing approach hinges on confidence and he wasn’t short of it last Australian summer.

Short, 27, admittedly started the summer slowly before exploding into higher honour discussions with a sizzling BBL season ahead of a strong finish with Victoria.

He carved 458 runs in 14 hits for the Adelaide Strikers, highlighted by a 59-ball century in a mammoth run chase against Hobart Hurricanes.

Upon returning to Victoria, Short wasted no time continuing his form, recording centuries in both the Sheffield Shield and Marsh One-Day Cup in the space of a week.

He labelled a century in each format in one summer “special”, particularly after struggling early on.

“Over the last couple of years I have gained a bit of confidence, purely coming out of the Big Bash, getting some good opportunities there and scoring some runs,” he said.

“I struggled in the first half of the season for Victoria and then once I got back to Adelaide and started the Big Bash, that obviously went well for me, I sort of gained a lot more confidence.

“I took a lot of that confidence into the second half of the Shield and one-day season with the Vics – I am actually not sure what switched it (the form) on.

“I think heading over to Adelaide and into a new environment sort of breaks up the season nicely, that definitely helps with freshening up your mind.

“And the Big Bash is pretty fun, so it’s always a good time of year, to do well there and get some confidence there definitely helped with the rest of the season with Victoria.”

Short celebrates his one-day hundred for Victoria. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Short labelled his BBL century as “unbelievable”. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Although his name now sits in national consideration, it hasn’t always been the case.

Short has had to wait for his opportunities and take them once they presented.

As recently as this Australian winter, Short has had a treble of replacement-player roles in the Indian Premier League, USA Major League and The Hundred.

It follows the story of Short’s career after a request for further opportunity with Strikers’ coach Jason Gillespie allowed him to thrive at the top of the order.

“My first three years there (Adelaide), I was batting through the middle and it wasn’t quite working out, I wasn’t really suited there,” he said.

“At the end of my third season, I went up to Dizzy, I think we had had a couple of quiet beers and I just said ‘mate I know I am more suited at the top of the order, how about we try cementing me at the top?’.

“He said he would think about it. Sure enough the next year, I went to the top of the order and it really paid off – he’s a big one to thank for that opportunity.

“In the last couple of years, working with Cameron White, we had him as an assistant at the Strikers and the years previously at Victoria, he has been a massive one for me too, especially tactically.”

Short walks out to bat during The Hundred. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

With his sights set on performing in his biggest opportunity to date, Short won’t change the approach that has led him there.

“It’s unreal,” he said of his national opportunity.

“It’s always good to get some recognition for your performances but I will treat it as any other game and play my natural way.

“It’s the same thing, if it’s in my zone I am going to try and hit it to the boundary.”