Matthew Short, the standout player from the last BBL season, is now the new captain of the Adelaide Strikers. He takes over from Travis Head after leading the team temporarily in the previous season. Short’s impressive performance included scoring 458 runs and taking 11 wickets in the 2022-23 tournament. Following his success, he also made his debut in T20Is and ODIs for Australia.

Short is now a contender for a spot in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad. However, the competition for top-order batting positions is tough, with players like Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, and Steven Smith in the mix. In the recent T20I series in India, Short was given the opportunity to bat lower down the order, showcasing his adaptability in a finishing role.

“Matt was a standout choice to take on the captaincy at the Adelaide Strikers and we are thrilled to announce him as our sixth captain,” Strikers head coach Jason Gillespie said. “When he stepped up last year we were very impressed with his leadership and we are looking forward to seeing him grow further into the role.”

Short added: “I really enjoyed the little taste of captaincy I got last season and I’m excited to put my full attention to it in BBL13.”

The Strikers might not have Travis Head or Alex Carey playing much in this season’s tournament due to the Test schedule. However, there’s a possibility they could join the team between the Pakistan and West Indies series in mid-January.

Last season, the Strikers ended up in seventh place with only five wins out of 14 matches. They kick off this season against Brisbane Heat in Adelaide on Saturday.