Jhye Richardson has rocketed into Australia’s Ashes calculations with a scintillating display of fast bowling that rocked Queensland in the Sheffield Shield.
While most eyes on the Queensland-Western Australia clash were focused on the fortunes of Usman Khawaja, Richardson put WA in the drivers’ seat with four wickets in Queensland’s second innings as Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey sat in the stands.
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The 25-year-old, who has endured through a stop-start international career due to persistent injuries, finished the day with figures off 4-23 off 22 overs, grabbing the wicket of Test star Marnus Labuschagne in the process.
Richardson also removed Joe Burns, who top-scored in Queensland’s second innings with 49, and former Test opener was left impressed by the right-armer’s performance.
“He’s a fantastic bowler,” he said after play. “Jhye’s done it for a number of years now and he’s done well for Australia as well.”
“I’m a big fan of him. He just bowled the right lengths, and he got us playing. He bowls well in these sorts of conditions – at the Gabba and the WACA – and he bowled the house down today.”
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Richardson made his Test debut in the summer of 2019 against Sri Lanka and immediately impressed, picking up six wickets in the two-match series, but has not played at the level since.
With Australia set to rotate its veteran pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood during the five Ashes Tests this summer, the recent retirement of James Pattinson has opened the door for Richardson, if he can stay healthy.
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After top-scoring with 70 in the first innings, Khawaja could not continue his streak of good form in the lead-up to the December 8 Ashes opener, dismissed for just eight in Queensland’s second innings.
In the other Sheffield Shield clash currently in progress, Tasmania and South Australia reached the end of Day 3 level on first-innings totals.
After dismissing South Australia for 220, Tasmania is currently 8-220 with Jordan Silk and Peter Siddle at the crease at stumps.
While Test star Travis Head managed just 14 in South Australia’s first innings, he was able to chip in with the ball, picking up a wicket in his two-over spell.