IPL 2023: PBKS pick Matthew Short as Jonny Bairstow's replacement
Adelaide Strikers opener Matthew Short has been chosen as Jonny Bairstow's replacement by Punjab Kings in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season. Bairstow is still recovering from a freak injury and has not received the No Objectification Certificate (NOC) from the English Cricket Board. The Australian opener will look to form an able partnership with Shikhar Dhawan at the top.
Why does this story matter?
PBKS needed a player who could utilize the powerplay batting alongside Dhawan. They were unfortunate to lose Bairstow who got injured in September 2022 and went under the knife for a broken leg and dislocated ankle. Previously, they splashed Rs 6.75 crore for the Englishman in the 2022 auction. So a replacement was the need of the hour, hopefully, Short will fill that void.
Second-highest run-getter in BBL 2022-23
Short hammered 458 runs for the Strikers in 14 matches at an average of 35.23. His strike rate of 144.47 must have impressed PBKS management. He was behind Aaron Hardie (460 runs). He smashed a solitary hundred and two fifties. His 100* against Hobart Hurricanes caught everyone's eyeballs as the Strikers chased down a target of 230. Short also picked 11 wickets.
Here's a look at Short's career numbers
The 27-year-old opener has very well-rounded stats in different formats. In 67 T20s, Short has hammered 1,409 runs striking at 136. He has mustered seven fifties and a ton in this format. In First-Class cricket he has scored 2,445 runs in 49 matches at 35.95. He also picked 36 wickets as a part-time off-spinner. Short has slammed 1,390 runs in 55 List A matches.
A look at Bairstow's IPL numbers
Bairstow is an experienced campaigner in IPL, having smoked 1,291 runs in 39 games at 35.86, striking at 142.65). The tally includes nine fifties and a ton. In his maiden season for PBKS, he slammed 253 runs at 23 (SR: 144.57). Overall in T20s, the Englishman has accumulated 4,304 runs at 30.52 (SR: 138.08). He has three tons and 25 fifties in this format.
