D'Arcy Short will miss Western Australia's one-day match on Tuesday due to a 'deep laceration' caused by a dog bite.

It was Ralph who did it.

Australian batsman D'Arcy Short has a legitimate excuse for missing Tuesday's domestic one-day cricket match in Perth: he has stitches in his left hand after being bitten by his dog, Ralph.

Fair dinkum.

GETTY IMAGES Australian opener D'Arcy Short opens the shoulders against the Black Caps in February.

The attacking left-hander, who debuted for his country against New Zealand in February and now has 10 Twenty20 internationals and three ODIs to his name, was ruled out of Western Australia's home match against New South Wales.

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"D'Arcy had an unlucky incident two weeks ago while playing with his dog, where his hand got in the way of a dog toy and the bite caused a deep laceration to the palm of his hand," WACA sports science sports medicine manager Nick Jones said in a statement.

"He needed a few stitches and surgical washout but has returned to batting and catching balls this week, and is on track for selection in round two [against South Australia on Saturday]."