Punjab Kings Replaces Jonny Bairstow With Matthew Short For IPL 2023
Matthew Short celebrating [Source: Twitter]
In a significant development, Punjab Kings have added swashbuckling Australian batter Matthew Short to their squad for the IPL 2023. Short, who represented Adelaide Strikers in the BBL 12, replaces English batter Jonny Bairstow.
Notably, Bairstow was ruled out of the IPL 2023 after failing to recover from a freak leg injury, which he sustained just prior to the T20 World Cup last year.
As the Englishman continues to rehabilitate, the England and Wales Cricket Board denied him NOC, preserving him for the all-important Ashes series scheduled in June.
Meanwhile, Short's inclusion shouldn't surprise anyone, as the batter enjoyed stellar success for Adelaide Strikers in the recently held Big Bash League.
Opening the batting, Short amassed 458 runs, including a ton and two fifties, at a healthy average of 35.23 and a magnificent strike rate of 144.47.
Thus, the right-handed batter helped the Strikers win numerous encounters through his incredible consistency in the showpiece event.
Besides registering the most runs for the Strikers, Short weaved his magic with the ball too, scalping 11 wickets in 14 innings at a decent economy 7.13.
Led by Shikhar Dhawan, Punjab Kings will kickstart their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 1.
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