Australia could be forced into a top-order reshuffle for their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final after Matthew Short sustained a quad injury during the clash against Afghanistan.
The injury, picked up late in Afghanistan’s innings, is expected to rule him out of the knockout fixture.
Despite opening the batting alongside Travis Head, Short visibly struggled between the wickets, restricting himself mostly to boundary hitting.
He managed 20 off 15 balls in a solid 44-run stand in 4.3 overs before being caught at mid-on.
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Speaking after the match, captain Steven Smith admitted that Short’s recovery in time for the semi-final seems unlikely.
“I think he’ll be struggling,” Smith said. “We saw tonight he wasn’t moving very well. It’s probably going to be too quick between games for him to recover.”
With Short’s likely absence, Jake Fraser-McGurk—who replaced the injured Mitchell Marsh in the squad—becomes the most straightforward replacement at the top of the order.
However, Australia could also consider a batting reshuffle, bringing in all-rounder Aaron Hardie as an alternative.
“We’ve got a few guys there to come in, and we’ll be able to fill a job,” Smith added.
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Another option for Australia could be left-handed batter and left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly, a travelling reserve who might be officially added to the squad if Matthew Short is ruled out of the tournament.
Beyond his batting, Short’s absence would be a blow to Australia’s spin-bowling depth. He had delivered a tidy spell against Afghanistan, conceding just 21 runs in seven overs.
However, the Aussies still have part-time spin options in Head and Marnus Labuschagne, the latter having taken two wickets against England but not used in the last game.
With a semi-final spot secured in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Australia will now have to weigh their options and make a call on the best possible XI for the knockout clash.
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