It is sad to realise that we may never see Jack Short opening the innings for Ireland again, taking on in exciting battle the awesome likes of Imran Khan, Wayne Daniels, Jeff Thomson, Len Pascoe, Geoff Dymock, Neil Mallender, Joel Garner … And coming out on top. An OECD post means that the Corkman will be based in Paris for the next two years at least and a pause of that length at just this point in his cricket career could prove fatal to his chances of adding to the 56 appearances he has already made for Ireland.
No matter how bottomless a player's talent, how great his determination, to resume at the age of 36 where he left off in the top echelon after an interruption of this nature would prove beyond the reach of most. So that in attempting to regather the international threads, to radiate the old confidence and vitality, and to remain committed enough to ward off the challenges that are certain to materialise from the bevy of young batsmen just waiting to grab the limelight, Short for once may have to admit personal defeat, unsavoury though that will be for him.
Batting against the West Indies in 1984
Knowing Jack, of course, he will be spurred on mightily by this comment to prove me wrong (yet again!) and collect the bottle of champagne I promised him when he completed 3,000 runs for Ireland (his tally stands currently at 2,515). He will scour every nook and cranny, every park and meadow in Paris to locate cricket of some variety and keep himself in reasonable nick during his French sojourn. He will, if such be possible, accumulate time off and holidays so that he can spend a large slice of each summer back in Dublin. He will not give in easily to the idea that his international career may be finished.
Even if it is at an end, Short's has been a long and illustrious innings. I have always been a devoted admirer of Jack — for his flamboyant skill with the bat, which is considerable, but mostly for his bravery and determination — qualities that have transformed many another Munster man into a world beater at sport.
He is one of those batsmen, like a Gooch or a Milburn on a larger stage, who stand out in their eras and dominate by their own special personality and brand of genius. He has that indefinable elegance and style given to so few batsmen, even to the most successful.
His inhibited style of the early and middle years energised the Irish batting and made victory an exciting possibility even against the very top teams.
Had he played with a little more circumspection in his halcyon seasons Jack would unquestionably have accumulated even more runs than he has. There were times when he infuriated — like when he was out on 99 in the historic 1977 win over Sussex at Pagham (though that was a fine delivery from Imran) but more particularly when on 39 against Middlesex in the Gillette Cup at Lord's in 1980 and on 33 against Northants in the Nat.West Cup at Northants two years later. But to Jack a half-volley is a half-volley no matter when it comes or who bowls it, deserving of being put away for runs. Jack never likes being tied down.
Facing Alec O'Riordan at College Park in 1973
In that match at Northants there had been a splendid opening stand with Enda McDermott and after Jack had played one particularly nice shot a local enthusiast, not knowing my nationality, turned to me and said: 'I'd heard these Irish were hopeless but, you know, that fellow would not look out of place opening the innings for England! '
And there were three-figure days, a winning 114 against Scotland on a rain-affected Rathmines track in 1975, 104 against Wales at Pontardulais in 1981 and 108, again against Wales, at Rathmines the following year.
There might also have been a memorable century against the 1977 Australians at Rathmines had Ireland not declared in their first innings at 200 for four, still 91 runs adrift of the tourists, with Short unbeaten on 80.
He has also proved his worth as a close-to-the-wicket fielder and his six catches against Wales at Wrexham in 1979 equalled the great Stuart Pollock's match record achieved against MCC at College Park in 1956.
For me, indications of Jack's exceptional prowess became apparent at an early age — long before he came on to the Ireland team as a substitute against Holland in Amsterdam in 1974 and had a record double half-century debut with 71 and 55 on a matting wicket that was totally strange to him.
In the victory over Scotland at Ayr that same season — a vitally important result following some disappointing performances against the Scots — I made Short's second-innings 48, out of a total of 129 on a fiendish wicket, worthy of comparison with Stanley Bergin's near-century against the 1951 South Africans, Cuan McCarthy et al, at College Park.
The comparison obviously amused Jack. Going through a bad patch in 1973 he sensibly slowed down his tempo in an effort to recover stability in his batting. When I recorded in print this patent change in strategy his retort was: 'But you always rated me a slow batter — remember the time you likened my batting to that of Stanley Bergin! '
Ireland v West Indies, Rathmines 1984
Even if he never makes the international arena again, Jack Short still has much to give to Irish cricket — as a coach. Always very good with youngsters, he has a natural talent to impart (he skills of the game to others.
More than once at the end of a gruelling day's play, both at home and abroad, I have seen Jack organise mini-games for local kids. Glasgow, last season, his final match, was typical of his enthusiasm in this direction. While most of the Irish team and officials were partaking of a civic reception in the pavilion, Jack was out by the sightscreen bowling to potential Scottish internationals of ten years hence.
Whether he does make it back or not — and his one remaining ambition in the game, outside of collecting that bottle of champagne, is to captain his country — there are not many who have made a greater contribution to Irish cricket. Most certainly put him in the category of a Bergin.