Richardson sidelined for Shield season

Pace bowler Kane Richardson will miss the remainder of the Sheffield Shield season as he continues to recover from a bone stress injury picked up playing for Australia in New Zealand.

Richardson, who turned 25 on Friday, faces an uncertain time out of the game but Cricket Australia's Bupa Support Team have confirmed he will miss at least the remainder of the first-class summer.

Richardson hurt his back while bowling in Australia's Chappell-Hadlee series opener against New Zealand in Auckland and he was a late scratching from the second match.

"The investigations into Kane's injury indicate an early stage bone stress injury," said Alex Kountouris, CA's Bupa Support Team Sports Science and Sports Medicine Manager.

"He will need a break from playing to allow this to settle down.

"We have not decided how much time is required to resolve this injury but he will not play in the upcoming Sheffield Shield games for South Australia."

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It's a further cruel blow for the Redbacks who have already lost runscorer Callum Ferguson to a season-ending knee injury while bowler Chadd Sayers is in New Zealand with the Test squad.

The injury also cost Richardson any chance of earning selection in Australia's World T20 squad.

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The West End Redbacks currently sit second in the Shield with four rounds remaining, and hold a narrow lead over  third-placed Queensland. The Redbacks host ladder-leaders Victoria at the Adelaide Oval from Sunday in day-night fixture to be played with a black-seamed pink ball.

Richardson had initially tried to bowl through the pain before being ruled out of the Chappell-Hadlee series and being sent home for scans. He will now target April's Indian Premier League for a return.

He had previously been diagnosed with a back 'hot spot' while playing for Australia A in 2013. In 2014, he was also sidelined during an ODI tri-series in Zimbabwe.

"I don't know what the technical term is, but it was a bit sore during the one-dayer I played in Auckland," Richardson told News Limited.

"I tried to train and play the next game but it got worse. With all the cricket coming up I didn't want to say anything.

"I wanted to get away with bowling, but it got to a point where I couldn't.

"It's not a fracture or anything like that, which is good news, but it's the start of a hot spot. A couple of weeks off and hopefully it can come back to normal.

"Hopefully, I can play a part for the Redbacks this year but, if not, IPL would be the goal."

Richardson was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for AUD$417,000 , where he will be joined by fellow Adelaide Strikers player Travis Head as well as Australian stars Mitchell Starc and Shane Watson.

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Richardson is the latest young fast bowler to be afflicted with back issues. It's accepted that fast bowlers are more susceptible to back injuries before they hit their mid-20s, and Richardson is hopeful his birthday brings a change in fortunes.

"I'm 25 (Friday), hopefully this is it for the back," Richardson said. "That's what they say, that in your mid 20s you kind of grow out of that, so fingers crossed this is the last time."