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Jhye Richardson's path back to Test cricket has been one of perseverance and resilience, as a result he is a better bowler now than three years ago.

Jhye Richardson has returned from two shoulder surgeries a better bowler than the player who made his Test debut three years ago.

Richardson will return to the Test arena on Thursday, 998 days since a dislocated shoulder cost him a World Cup and Ashes berth.

The story of the short-in-stature quick and his untimely shoulder injury in 2019 has already been told many times this week.

But what isn't so detailed is what the West Australian quick went through.

He returned in the Sheffield Shield six months later, but further complications ended his red-ball summer and prompted further surgery.

Since the initial blow, Richardson has played just eight first-class games, undergone two surgeries and spent more than a year in injury rehabilitation.

He has had stalled start after stalled start, even suffering spasms this summer on the eve of what was meant to be his latest return.

Richardson is by no means the first quick to have long periods out, with Australia's captain Pat Cummins the obvious example.

But the way he has rebounded has those in the right places raving about his dedication and return.

"At least with the back injuries you know players have done it before and got back," Cummins said.

"With the shoulder injuries it is probably less common. You feel like you never get quite as strong or back to what you were previously.

"But he's done it really well. He's taken his time. Even last year he battled in the field, but was one of the main bowlers in the Big Bash."

Richardson's unavailability for this year's white-ball tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh after the IPL also proved a blessing in disguise.

As the leading wicket-taker in last year's BBL, Richardson would have been a legitimate T20 World Cup chance had he performed.

His absence instead allowed him to complete his first batch of matches in first-class cricket in three years, during which he snared 23 wickets at 13.43 in four Sheffield Shield games to force Ashes selection.

"He looks not only to be as good a bowler he was a few years ago, he's better," Cummins said

"He's got more control. He's still got all the skills and just that little bit older."

It's a fitting reward for Richardson, who made Test cricket as his top priority after beating his mental demons.

"There's a lot that goes through your mind about whether or not you're going to reach your full potential," Richardson said in February.

"Things were going really well before my shoulder actually happened. Then all those questions flood in.

"I had a lot of amazing people around me say I'll get back.

"The longer I heard it the more I'm starting to believe it. When you believe in yourself that's when you can reach your potential."