Australia has been hit hard ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy semi-finals, with opener Matthew Short suffering a knee injury during a rain-affected match against Afghanistan at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 27th.
The injury sparked serious doubt about his availability for the important semi-finals that will take place next week against either India or New Zealand.
The injury has come as a major setback for Australia. Australia had secured their place in the semi-finals after the washout.
Despite his qualifications, his mood was hidden by concerns surrounding short fitness. Australian captain Steve Smith has expressed doubts about shortstop recovery and admits that opener struggles to walk due to injuries, and it is unlikely he will fit in time for the semi-finals.
In response to uncertainty about Short’s status, Australian team administrators have appointed Jack Fraser-McGurk as an alternative. This should fail to recover Short.
With hopes of a successful Australian campaign now lying on short fitness, the team will closely monitor their progress in the lead-up to knockout matches.