Barring an injury in Perth, Australia are unlikely to need Boland for Adelaide given there is a nine-day break between the first and second Tests. But there are concerns about the three-day shift between Adelaide and Brisbane, followed by a seven-day break until Boxing Day and then a three-day gap to Sydney. Quicks themselves and the team management have publicly stated that it is highly unlikely to play all five Tests without changes, as they did last year.
“Selection pending, hopefully next game,” Richardson said. “I’m still waiting to see what kind of restriction and things are put in place about it. It’s a pink ball in Adelaide and, you know, I like to play pink ball games so I’ve been trying really hard to get into that one, but we’ll see How are we going? Obviously, the plan is not 100% finalized.”
“It’s been a little frustrating. But they told me that at the beginning of this whole process. They told me it was going to be slow and very purposeful. So, hopefully now we’re getting to the end of the process, getting into some red ball [cricket]. I hope it’s all worth it.”
Jhye Richardson on her reconstruction
He has been bowling without interruption since his return in IPL 2024, but as a cricket Australia contracted player, a decision was made during the off-season that his progress towards a first-class return would be gradual. There was a period as late as September when it was thought he would not be able to play any red-ball cricket before the BBL.
But he has since stringed together four List A games, winning 5 for 63, 3 for 36, 0 for 25 and 1 for 19 and two four-day second XI games for WA.
“It’s been a little frustrating,” Richardson said. “But they told me that at the beginning of this whole process. They told me it was going to be slow and very purposeful. So, hopefully now we’re getting to the end of the process, getting into a red ball.” [cricket]. I hope it’s all worth it.”
The results of the second XI were hugely encouraging. He was heavily restricted in the first game against South Australia in early October, bowling just ten overs in the first innings and six in the second. But his performance against New South Wales in early November has changed a lot of thinking about his progression. He took 4 for 13 from 11 overs in the first innings and backed it up with 1 for 30 from 14 in the second. It was the most overs he bowled in a game in over 12 months.
“To be honest, I felt like I was alive again,” Richardson said. “The bones and muscles were a little sore, but that’s a good thing. It means you’ve done something with purpose. I haven’t had that feeling in a long time. I’m very happy.”
“I think for the game, I cast a six spell, a seven spell, and two other six spells, or something like that. So they were relatively long spells, which is good. I was able to play Get a little rhythm and feel it.” which is going back to bowling for a long period.
“I probably could have used one or two more spells, but I’m very happy.”
Richardson still can’t throw from deep in the outfield due to a shoulder problem, but he said it was manageable, although he acknowledged that fielding was an important part of contributing to the team.
He was asked if he thought he could handle playing back-to-back Shield games in late November and early December, before the BBL break. “I hope so,” he said. “I think I could.”
Richardson confirmed that he would participate in the IPL auction, but did not have a target in mind in terms of his international return.
“Is [on] “Game by game at this stage, especially because this process is a little bit slower,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the game ahead of me. There’s a lot of talk about who’s coming in and out of the Test team and changing personnel and things like that. But it’s not something I can afford to think too much about. If I “I push too much, it’s not good for anyone. So the main thing for me is to play these games, perform and overcome them.”
