Australia's Jhye Richardson celebrates the wicket of England's Rory Burns during day four of the second Ashes test at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide. Picture date: Sunday December 19, 2021.. See PA story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: Jason O'Brien/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.
UPDATE: Australian fast bowler Jhye Richardson is set to make a crucial comeback on November 21, just as injuries plague the national team. Richardson has been named in a Cricket Australia XI squad for a four-day match against the England Lions at Lilac Hill, coinciding with the start of The Ashes series at Optus Stadium, located just 13 kilometers away.
This development comes at a critical time for Australia, as key players including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Sean Abbott are sidelined due to injuries. Cummins is recovering from bone stress in his back, while Hazlewood and Abbott are out with hamstring issues sustained during the final Sheffield Shield round.
Richardson underwent shoulder stabilisation surgery in January, aiming to return to peak condition just in time for the end of The Ashes. His first red-ball match since last November is now on the horizon, raising hopes for a much-needed boost to Australia’s bowling lineup.
“We’ve got Jhye Richardson returning from injury… things are going well,” said Australian coach Andrew McDonald, highlighting Richardson’s expected impact on the Ashes.
As Richardson prepares for this significant match, he has recently featured in the last three one-day games for Fremantle. In his latest outing, he bowled eight overs without taking a wicket in an eight-wicket loss to Mt Lawley.
The forthcoming game against the England Lions will be crucial not just for Richardson but also for the Australian team’s strategy moving forward. With the CA XI composed of players outside of their respective state teams, the match will run concurrently with the Sheffield Shield’s fifth round.
Other names in the squad include white-ball specialist Jake Fraser-McGurk, while Josh Inglis may join the lineup to gain additional red-ball batting practice if he is not needed as a concussion substitute for the Test.
As fans eagerly await the start of The Ashes, the focus is on Richardson’s comeback and its potential impact on the series. Can he deliver for Australia as the team navigates through injury challenges? Stay tuned for the latest updates as this story develops.
