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Jhye a step closer to Test dream

Exciting quick ready to make the shift back to the longer format after Test call-up

Australia quick Jhye Richardson believes adaptability will be key if he is to be handed Baggy Green No.457 against Sri Lanka in the upcoming Domain Test series.

Richardson admitted it was a “bittersweet situation” to be added to the Test squad after star fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was diagnosed with an early stage stress fracture and subsequently ruled out of the two-Test campaign that begins in Brisbane on Thursday.

The 22-year-old Richardson comes into the squad on the back of an impressive display in the Gillette ODI Series against India, which included the key scalp Virat Kohli in each game, as well as a terrific start to the JLT Sheffield Shield season that saw him collect 27 wickets at an average of 19.03 from his five games for Western Australia.

Richardson completes Kohli series hat-trick

Peter Siddle is the other paceman in contention to join Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the fast-bowling attack for the first Test, but Richardson could be seen as Hazlewood’s new-ball replacement if Australia opt to keep Cummins in his role as the ideal first-change option.

“It’s about being adaptable,” Richardson told media on Saturday morning. “Whatever that role may be, then I’m happy to accommodate that.

“I like to run in and bowl fast, but sometimes that’s not what’s needed.

“I might need to come in and stem the flow the runs or build some pressure.

“I think I’m learning how to do that better, especially over the past year in Shield cricket.”

Having played five KFC BBL matches and three ODIs since his last Shield game in early December, Richardson will be counting on his ability to adapt for the shift in focus back to the longer format.

Richardson fires with four India wickets

“I think that’s the joy of my career so far, I’ve learned how to deal with things that have popped up quickly,” Richardson said.

“A couple of years ago everything happened in such a whirlwind, I went from nowhere to stepping up and playing international cricket for Australia.”

The other variable for Richardson and the Aussies to factor into their plans is the return of the day-night Test and pink Kookaburra balls for the Brisbane clash.

Australia are currently undefeated in their four Tests under lights, while Richardson is excited by the prospect of potentially making his debut with the typically bowler-friendly conditions seen in day-night Tests on home soil.

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“I probably had one of my better games when I played at the WACA under lights, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Richardson said of his sole pink-ball outing where he claimed four wickets in just his second first-class appearance.

“We’ve seen during that twilight period that the ball moves around a little bit more.

“I definitely like to swing the ball early, which will be the plan if I do get to play.

“Every advantage is ideal going into this series.”

The hurried nature of his call-up means Richardson will spend much of the week brushing up on his knowledge of the Sri Lankan batting line-up that is currently preparing in a three-day tour match against the Cricket Australia XI at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena.

It’s all part of the learning process for the young quick who was a member of the Test squad for the dramatic tour of South Africa last year.

As controversy followed Australia at nearly every step throughout the four-Test series, Richardson was determined to soak up any cricket knowledge that came with seeing superstar fast bowlers such as Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel up close.

“It was a great learning experience from a cricket point of view, to be able to see the way Test cricket works and how grueling it is,” Richardson said.

“It’s called Test cricket for a reason. You might be called upon to bowl 40-plus overs for the game, just like in Shield cricket it’s pretty taxing on your body. That’s the joy of it.

“Shield cricket this year, I’ve really enjoyed the long spells and challenging myself to become a long-format bowler.”

Jhye Richardson’s first-class record

Matches: 11 | Wickets: 49 | Average: 23.24 | Strike Rate: 47.7

Domain Test Series v Sri Lanka

Australia: Tim Paine (c/wk), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Will Pucovski, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha

CA XI: Joe Burns (c), Kurtis Patterson (vc), Scott Boland, Jake Doran (wk), Jon Holland, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Will Pucovski, Jason Sangha, Matt Renshaw, Chris Tremain

Jan 17-19: Tour match, CA XI v SL, Hobart (D/N)

Jan 24-28: First Test, Gabba (D/N)

Feb 1-5: Second Test, Canberra