Matthew Short: No hype, just efficiency

At 29, Matthew Short doesn’t fit the mold of a headline-grabbing cricket star. His batting isn’t built on flamboyance or brute force, nor does he embody the textbook purity that purists admire. He’s no poster boy — no tattoos, flashy haircuts, or witty soundbites. He never carried the tag of a prodigy, nor did he benefit from the backing of legendary figures to fast-track his rise. Hype has never followed him — and still doesn’t. Such a low profile can be hard to overcome. Players like Short often find themselves sidelined in favor of flashier names. It's unclear if his absence from San Francisco Unicorns' first three matches was due to lingering effects of an injury from the Champions Trophy in March or simply a familiar story of being overlooked. But fate called on him unexpectedly when he was asked to step in as captain, replacing the injured Corey Anderson ahead of their clash with TSK. “Shane Watson, our coach, knows me from my time leading the Adelaide Strikers,” Short explained. “We’ve worked together briefly, but he’s always seen me as someone who stays level when pressure builds. Keeping calm when the game’s flying around you — that’s the job of a captain. When balls are disappearing to all parts, it’s about keeping your head and making sure the bowlers stay focused.” Short lived up to that billing. TSK, led by a rampant Faf du Plessis, were poised to crush the Unicorns after reaching 160 for 1 in just 15 overs. With big hitters like Marcus Stoinis and Daryl Mitchell waiting, it seemed the Unicorns were destined for a battering. But Short’s calm leadership saw his team claw back control, conceding under 10 runs an over in the final stretch. Then, with bat in hand, Short led a furious counter-attack alongside Allen. The pair tore into the TSK bowlers, racking up 83 in the powerplay alone and racing well ahead of the required run rate. Both brought up rapid half-centuries, sealing the win comfortably in the 17th over, silencing a packed Grand Prairie Stadium that had been roaring moments earlier. Short’s quiet effectiveness isn’t new. Last season, he averaged 34, scoring 170 runs at a blistering strike rate of 180 from just five innings. Now, with leadership thrust upon him once more, he’s delivered immediately. For Matthew Short, it’s never been about the buzz — it’s always been about delivering when it matters.