D'Arcy Short: Hampshire sign Australia international for T20 Blast

D'Arcy Short made his Australia debut against England in 2018

Hampshire have signed Australia's D'Arcy Short for the 2021 T20 Blast.

The 30-year-old has played 31 times for his country and as well as averaging 35.31 with the bat, has taken 48 wickets as a left-arm wrist spinner.

He has featured for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League and the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash.

He hit 483 runs in 12 innings during a spell with Durham in the 2019 T20 Blast - the fourth-highest tally of runs in the competition that season.

Short has been named in Australia's preliminary squad for their summer tour to the West Indies in July, so could miss much of the season if he is selected in the final touring party.

"He is a high-class performer who has consistently shown his ability to score a high volume of runs at the top of the order, both for Australia and in a number of the world's best T20 competitions," Hampshire director of cricket Giles White told the club website.

"Alongside his skill with the bat, he also gives us another spin bowling option with the ball so we're excited about what he brings to the side and are looking forward to having him with us."

Australia preliminary squad for limited overs tour of West Indies (9-24 July): Aaron Finch (capt), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Tanveer Sangha, D'Arcy Short, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa