Matt Short is firmly in the spotlight again as he looks ahead to what could be the biggest year of his cricketing career. The Australian all-rounder, widely recognised for his destructive batting in the Big Bash League, has his sights set on three major goals: cementing a spot in the T20 World Cup, earning another IPL contract, and even dreaming of an Olympics family double alongside his gold-medal-winning wife.
At 30 years old, Short has become one of the standout performers in Australia’s domestic T20 scene. He’s a two-time BBL MVP with the Adelaide Strikers, dominating the competition with a blend of power hitting and handy off-spin bowling. Over the past few seasons he’s scored more runs than any other player in the league, showing consistency, aggression, and leadership all while captaining the Strikers.
World Cup Ambitions
Despite his big performances in the BBL, Matt Short is still working hard to lock down a regular spot in Australia’s T20 team. He travelled as a reserve during the 2024 T20 World Cup, which only strengthened his hunger to be part of the main squad next time around, when the tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Short himself acknowledges how packed Australia’s batting lineup is at the top, with names like Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green and Tim David all competing for spots. But he’s embraced the challenge, saying the experience of batting in different positions and improving his all-around game could be the edge he needs.
IPL Dreams Reignited
Along with T20 World Cup qualification, Short is eyeing a return to the Indian Premier League. He featured in six games for Punjab Kings back in 2023, but feels that at the time he was too green to make the most of the opportunity.
Now with several more seasons of elite T20 cricket under his belt, Short has set his base price high at the upcoming IPL auction and is confident that teams will see a more seasoned and battle-ready player. He’s openly spoken about how that first taste of IPL was overwhelming but believes the experience has made him a better competitor.
Off the Field: A Sporting Power Couple
Outside of cricket, Short shares his life with wife Madi, a retired Australian swimmer and Olympic gold medallist. The couple recently welcomed their first child, and now, with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics on the horizon, Short admits they’ve joked about chasing an Olympic family double something that would be a rare and remarkable achievement in sport.
He jokes that matching his wife’s success in swimming would be a tough task, but the thought says a lot about how he lives his life and plays his sport. Matt Short believes in aiming high, putting in the hard work, and moving forward one step at a time.
What’s Next
With the BBL season unfolding, Short has a golden chance to underline his credentials for national selectors and IPL franchises alike. Strong performances with the bat and ball could finally break open the door to consistent international T20 cricket perhaps set the stage for a banner year.
Keep an eye on this dynamic all-rounder as he looks to turn big ambitions into reality.
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