With their BBL campaign on the line, can the Hurricanes rely on D'Arcy Short to come through against the Strikers?
The Hobart Hurricanes haven't really realised their true potential this season with just seven wins in fourteen games - enough to help their qualify for the top five. They've had their fair share of injuries but will welcome back Scott Boland to the fold as they face the Strikers today.However, the Hurricanes have to contend with another loss - the unavailability of Sandeep Lamicchane. This puts in a big dent in Hobart's spin department, leaving young Wil Parker as their lead spinner. But there's another back-up option too.D'Arcy Short, Hobart's talisman, has been in iffy form off late with both and ball. While his batting returns have drawn a lot of flak in recent weeks, his left-arm wrist-spin has fared slightly better. As we await the start of the BBL playoffs, here's some much-needed insight into D'Arcy Short's BBL campaign!Rusty Yet Consistency! Can Short Finally Unleash on the Strikers?Although Short has accumulated 388 runs in 14 games, there's more to it than just that one number. Short is striking at less than 110, which isn't what we are accustomed to seeing in recent seasons.A major part of this can be credited to Short's demotion to the middle-order. With the Hurricanes keen on getting fast starts at the top of the order, Short's conservative approach didn't fit the ideology. However, he is a good player of spin and pace and if he does get going, there's no stopping him. In addition, Short is used to batting in the middle order in white-ball cricket. So he isn't really in no-man's land in the Hobart middle-order.While his battle against Fawad and Travis Head will be one to watch out for, his leg-spin is what could make or break the game for the Hurricanes. The Adelaide Strikers are left-hand heavy with Head, Carey and Renshaw in the mix. With Short likely to bowl four overs, his performance on a decent MCG track is one to keep an eye out for.The BBL finals will surely entice the Hurricanes and Short, who was part of the 2017 Hobart team that lost to the Strikers in the BBL final. With a lot riding on this game, can Short go long? Only time and possibly you could tell!
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