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Richardson a new man in young Aust attack

3 minute read

Kane Richardson has proven he is a far different bowler to the last time he was part of an Australian bowling attack.

KANE RICHARDSON.
KANE RICHARDSON. Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Images

Kane Richardson has come a long way since being put on the never-again pile by Justin Langer three years ago.

Richardson will be one of Australia's key men with the ball in the looming five-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand, with none of the Test quicks available.

The last time Richardson was part of such an attack was back in 2018, when he went for 0-59 in a T20 in England and was not picked again in any format for nine months.

Langer has since said he believed at the time the right-armer didn't have the bottle for international cricket, before having his mind changed by the quick.

The 30-year-old is a far more senior player now.

He won his way back into the one-day squad for the 2019 World Cup and is very much part of the plans for this year's global Twenty20 tournament in India.

He is now far more comfortable in his role and is also undeterred by the potential of being the most experienced quick on the park in New Zealand.

"Having success you get to feel more comfortable ... That's always going to come through playing a few more years," Richardson said.

"But what I've learned in the last 10 years of playing is mainly as a bowler, you're told what to do.

"So whether or not you're the most experienced bowler makes no difference.

"I think trying to band together as a group all of us exchange ideas on what can work on these small grounds and against this opposition is important.

"But at the end of the day it's a discussion between the bowler and Finchy and Andrew McDonald and whoever else is involved."

Richardson does see similarities between this month's tour and the 2018 T20 tri-series against New Zealand and England without the big-name quicks.

Without the vast majority of their Test stars in South Africa, Richardson took eight wickets at 19.75 in the series win over two full-strength teams.

Crucially, the Melbourne Renegades quick believed coming off the back of a long Big Bash was key to that and will again be this month.

"Even three years ago and this year coming out of the BBL season, you're so clear on what you've done well in the last two months," Richardson said.

"So I think everyone, even if Riley Meredith gets to play his first game, he's going to be incredibly clear on what he needs to do and his role.

"Because he's been doing that for the last two months and that's what's got him picked to be here."

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