Tigers hunting BBL star to fill important role as frontline spinner as well as batting blaster

The Tigers have pitched a prominent role with the ball to D’Arcy Short to compliment his batting prowess as they attempt to lure the West Australian across the country for a permanent switch.

D’ARCY  Short’s blazing blade has made him a white-ball phenomenon, but it is his improving left-arm leg-spin which has Tasmania chasing his coveted signature.

The Twenty20 star, who has been crowned the Hobart Hurricanes’ best player for the past three Big Bash tournaments, is weighing up a switch to the state from his Western Australia base for all three forms of the game.

D'Arcy Short of the Hobart Hurricanes launches a ball into the stands. Picture: JAMES ELSBY/GETTY IMAGES

One of the most dynamic short-form players in the country, Short has made 28 ODI and T20 international appearances but has only played 14 first-class matches since his Warriors debut in 2016.

While confirming he has only held brief discussions with his star Cane, Tigers coach Adam Griffith is hoping a more prominent role with the ball can convince the 29-year-old to relocate permanently.

The Tigers roll out a four-man pace attack at the seam-friendly Blundstone Arena, with Short’s bowling — which saw him collect a career best 5-21 against the Sydney Thunder during BBL09 last summer — a perfect foil alongside Beau Webster, who provides some handy off-spin.

“We’re still in negotiations with him, he hasn’t agreed to anything or committed to anything,” Griffith said.

D'Arcy Short has played an important role with the ball for the Hurricanes. Picture: AAP IMAGE/RICHARD WAINWRIGHT

“We see D’Arcy as a genuine all-rounder who has done so well for us in the Hurricanes space with the ball as well as the bat,” Griffith said.

“We see that as such an enticing option for us, having someone at the top of the order who can also be a frontline spinner.

“The thing with first-class cricket in Hobart is everyone thinks about day one, everyone thinks about the morning of day one and how it nips around, it can swing and seam.

“What that also brings is sometimes bowling groups can chase, sometimes they can give you stuff to hit and if you have someone who can take advantage of that up the top, it can be priceless in setting up a low-scoring game.

“Conversely when the sun comes out and the game progresses, it is quite a good batting wicket as well.

“D’Arcy is the type of player, as we saw with Beau Webster last year with his amazing innings here [a brilliant century against Western Australia], to have someone else in our batting group who is capable of batting like that, can win games of cricket for you.

“That’s what we want to do now, we want to win games of cricket.”

David Warner burst onto the international scene as a T20 thrasher but has emerged as one of the most damaging batsmen in Test cricket. Picture: BRETT COSTELLO

Griffith also has no doubt Short can follow in the footsteps of David Warner and transform from T20 marvel to a contender for Test cricket — if he has the passion.

“D’Arcy is super-skilled and a talented batter who when he puts his mind to it, can do a lot of things that a lot of batters can’t,” Griffith said.

“We’ve seen that in different formats over the years, that he has played unbelievable innings. I think it’s a case of if he really wants it, then why can’t he do it?

“That’s the attitude that he has to take and that’s the attitude we’ve taken in why we want to recruit him.”