Photo Credit: Adelaide Strikers
Adelaide Strikers all-rounder Matt Short has been named the KFC BBL Player of the Tournament.
It is the first time a Striker has earned the honour in the Big Bash League.
Short was given the award on Monday at the Australian Cricket Awards, after being the leading run-scorer in BBL|12 with 458 runs.
He became just the third player in 12 seasons to hit 400 runs and take 10 wickets in a BBL season – only the Hurricanes’ D’Arcy Short and Stars’ Marcus Stoinis have also completed the feat.
As much as Short’s batting, which included 18 sixes, 42 fours and his maiden century, impressed throughout the tournament, his bowling was equally as good.
Often opening the bowling with his spin, along with opening the batting, Short took a career-high 11 wickets at an economy rate of 7.14 and took five wickets in the first or second over of the match.
Short set the tone from the opening match of the tournament, making 84 runs in his first Player of the Match performance in a 51-run win against the Sixers at Adelaide Oval.
In his 50th Adelaide Strikers match against the Thunder at Adelaide Oval, Short scored 65 and took 3-13 in another Player of the Match performance.
With Travis Head off on National duties and Peter Siddle out injured, Short captained the Strikers for the first time against the Hurricanes at home and carried his bat in what was the biggest successful chase in BBL history of 230 runs.
A four at the end of the chase not only brought up the winning runs, but also his maiden century – with Short finishing 100*.
He also impressed in the field, taking seven catches, including an elite catch at first slip in the match at Sydney Sportsground against the Thunder that kickstarted the all-out for 15 collapse.
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager, Big Bash Leagues, said:
“Matt Short was at the centre of some of the most memorable moments in KFC BBL history this summer and a worthy recipient of Player of the Tournament honours.
“Whether it be his unbelievable catch to set off a chain reaction in that remarkable early season game against the Thunder, or his unbeaten century in the Strikers’ record run chase, Short played a crucial role in some unforgettable games.
“We commend him on taking out that award, as well as the BKT Golden Bat for the League’s highest run-scorer.”
