Cooper Connolly drafted by Australia as Short’s replacement with the later missing out due to a quad injury.
Cooper Connolly replaces Short as India’s spinners loom for Australia.
Short would not have had time to recuperate for the knockout rounds after suffering a quad injury against Afghanistan.
Connolly, a 21-year-old left-arm spinner and left-hand batsman, will be ready right away because he has been a travelling reserve with the team. Despite having just played three ODIs, he might be considered for selection right away because Australia has lost Short’s offspin.
Jake Fraser-McGurk is the backup batsman if the selectors decide to alter up the opening batsmen like for like. However, if they needed another specialist spin bowler, they might think about shifting the attack’s balance and adding Tanveer Sangha.
The selectors still believe that Fraser-McGurk, who was Mitchell Marsh’s replacement, can handle the powerplay despite his poor performance in his seven ODIs to far (98 runs at 14.00) and vulnerability when the new ball moves.
If the selectors decide against going with Fraser-McGurk, someone from the middle order will have to move up to the top to take Short’s place, possibly Josh Inglis, who is currently playing well.
After New Zealand lost the last group match, Australia found out that India would be their semi-final opponent in Dubai on Tuesday.
Australia and South Africa, the two qualifying Group B teams, went to Dubai to give the squad playing India time to get ready. Now, South Africa will immediately return to Lahore to play New Zealand in their semi-final.
“We’ve obviously had a bit of a hectic schedule, playing a couple of games in Pakistan, back and forth in between cities, but I think with the nature of this tournament,” legspinner Adam Zampa said.
“It changes a little bit,” Zampa said of the conditions between Pakistan and Dubai. “Potentially slower lower wickets, so there might be an opportunity to create a few more chances, we’ll see.”