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Skiddier Richardson a point of difference

3 minute read

Jhye Richardson believes his "skiddier" style offers Australia bowling variety and makes him a genuine option in any rotation of Test pacemen.

JHYE RICHARDSON of Australia.
JHYE RICHARDSON of Australia. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Jhye Richardson's Adelaide heroics could prompt renewed faith in Australia's fast-bowling rotation policy with the quick confident he can become a point of difference late in Tests.

Richardson remains unsure if he will feature in the Boxing Day Test, with captain Pat Cummins to return but medical staff waiting to assess Josh Hazlewood's side strain when he arrives in Melbourne on Thursday.

In a further sign of concern over Australia's quicks, uncapped Scott Boland was also added to the Test squad on Tuesday as cover after Mitchell Starc battled back soreness in Adelaide.

Regardless, Australia's frontline quicks have long maintained they do not want to miss matches, with Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc barely rotated of late with fewer matches during the pandemic and injuries to their support cast.

But selectors indicated before the start of the Ashes they wanted a squad mentality with bowlers, particularly with short turnarounds between Tests.

Former chief selector Trevor Hohns all but admitted Australia made a mistake by not resting any of the quicks last summer in their 2-1 series loss to India.

Richardson's five-wicket haul to win the game for Australia at Adelaide Oval will only add to his claims as a regular back-up, with his average now 22.09 in three Tests.

At 178cm, Richardson believes his naturally straight and skiddy nature can be an advantage for Australia on wickets that have inconsistent bounce later in Tests.

"We've got someone like Greeny (Cameron Green at 198cm) who feels like he can get the most bounce," Richardson said.

"Starcy (197cm) bowling at 145km/h, it's just another string to the bow for the team to have different variations for different scenarios.

"If my job is to hit the stumps, then that's what I'm going to try and do.

"Potentially being a little bit skiddier on wickets that are up and down, that may be an advantage."

Richardson considers that as potentially crucial in the New Year's Test at the SCG, while Australia have several tours to the sub-continent in 2022 on wickets that generally keep low.

"Somewhere like SCG as well could be an advantage on day four and five when it starts to go up and down," Richardson said.

"Or if it's spinning and the pace bowlers aren't getting much variation.

"Release height is important, (on both) sides.

"Where I'm a lot shorter, but also someone like Greeny can find something out of a pretty dead wicket.

"Having those variations in the team is very important."

Richardson went wicketless in the first innings in Adelaide as Australia opted to bowl fuller and make the ball swing.

The 25-year-old then made a point to start back of a length in the second innings, before working into his rhythm and going fuller.

His balls to remove Haseeb Hameed and Chris Woakes were among the best of the match, before he got Jos Buttler hit wicket for a second time in his career after the Englishman did so in the BBL three summers ago.

"That might be worth mentioning if I get another Test," Richardson said.

"The beauty of Australian cricket at the moment is we've got fast bowling stocks for days.

"That's a wonderful problem for JL (coach Justin Langer) and the selectors to have.

"Whatever happens, happens ... I'm happy to go either way.

"As long as we're winning."

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