Short out, McDermott in for final Windies one-day clash

By: Jasper Bruce and Alex Mitchell Time published 2024-02-05 at 03:32 AM (GMT +11:00)

Australia have continued to shuffle their ODI line up ahead of their final clash with the West Indies, with Matt Short out due to a minor hamstring tweak.

SEAN ABBOTT of Australia bowls during the One Day International series between Australia and West Indies at MCG in Melbourne, Australia.
SEAN ABBOTT of Australia bowls during the One Day International series between Australia and West Indies at MCG in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Australia batter Matt Short will miss the final one-day international clash with the West Indies after suffering a hamstring injury.

Short made an ODI career-high 41 in Australia's 83-run, series-clinching win in Sydney on Sunday, but a lower-grade hamstring complaint means he won't play the third match in Canberra on Tuesday.

Ben McDermott has been called up to cover Short's absence after the Queenslander made a quality, unbeaten 146 in Sheffield Shield action against Tasmania across the weekend.

The hosts will be shuffling their batting card again, having rested Travis Head from the squad after the series-opening encounter where he again struggled and made just four runs.

Pace bowler Josh Hazlewood also won't travel to Manuka Oval, staying in Sydney before heading to Hobart for the T20 portion of the West Indies' tour.

Spencer Johnson has been called into the squad, while Xavier Bartlett is also expected to play, having rested after taking 4-17 in his ODI debut on Friday.

Sean Abbott, who clubbed 69 and took three wickets in Sunday's win, thinks the series has unearthed long-term stars of the future.

Only four players who played in last year's victorious World Cup final were available for both of Australia's two matches since, leading to four debutants gaining selection across the pair of wins.

Along with Bartlett and fellow quick Lance Morris, swashbuckling batter Jake Fraser-McGurk and allrounder Will Sutherland have made ODI debuts.

Only three members of Australia's champion World Cup squad are under 30, emphasising the need for the side to begin assessing its options for the coming years.

"We've seen four debutants already who have gone about it in different ways," Abbott said.

"But I think they've jumped on the front foot early and they look ready to keep playing.

"I think there are some long-term options that we've seen there already."

Fraser-McGurk played a fierce and fleeting innings on debut, smacking Alzarri Joseph down the ground for four and over deep square leg for six before being caught behind on 10 runs.

A shining light for Melbourne Renegades in this summer's BBL, Fraser-McGurk attempted a slog on the very first ball of the innings.

"We've seen Travis (Head) build a game around that, Mitch Marsh is sort of not as aggressive as that but they all take the positive option and that's the way we've played for a long time now," said Abbott.

"That's going to complement the other batters around him in the powerplay if (Fraser-McGurk) continues to get opportunities, which I'm sure he will."