Jack Short was an elegant batsman who scored freely from the top of the order. He made 2,515 runs in 56 appearances from 1974-84, when he retired early to take up a post in Paris. Born in Cork, he played for Bohemians until moving to Dublin in 1984, joining the Leinster club. He made his debut that summer, scoring 71 and 55 against Netherlands.

He made three centuries but his 99 against Sussex in Pagham in 1977 helped Ireland to a first victory over an English county. And he was 80no, having survived the fiery Jeff Thomson and Len Pascoe, when Dermott Monteith declared against Australia in 1977.