Jhye ready to stand tall and answer critics

Jhye Richardson has been told all his life he's too short to be a fast bowler, but the 21-year-old bolter is ready to rise up if called upon during Australia's four-Test Qantas Tour of South Africa.

Richardson has played just five JLT Sheffield Shield matches for Western Australia but was the shock inclusion on Monday for the Aussies four-Test tour in March.

At 178cm tall and weighing in at around 70kg, Richardson would look more at home sitting next to Australia's top order batsmen in a team photo than standing with the fellow quicks.

But despite being told by coaches throughout his junior career he was too small to be an out-and-out quick, Richardson has been sending them down at 145kph to claim 17 wickets at 26.29 in four Shield matches this year.

"It's a question I get asked a lot actually (about my speed) and I don't really know what to tell people," Richardson said.

"It's always something in your head you always want to prove people wrong and I think that's been my attitude from the start, if someone is going to beat me down, why not prove them wrong.

"I think just a combination of having the right rhythm and having the right body parts going in the right direction.

"Having a front leg that's locked, being able to get my weight over my front leg is probably the main one that I think contributes to me being able to bowl fast."

Richardson will likely do more learning than playing during the four Tests, but will vie with Jackson Bird to replace any of the frontline quicks if they go down injured.

Richardson would likely be the favourite to replace Mitchell Starc or Pat Cummins if they were out, particularly if the wicket wasn't a seaming green top that would likely suit Bird.

Regardless, it means he could follow in the footsteps of an 18-year-old Cummins who took 6-79 on debut in South Africa in 2011.

"I remember a little bit about it and having watched that reiterates the mindset you have and saying if he can do it at that same young age, why can't I do it?" Richardson said.

"There's going to be a lot of people that put me down for not having the experience at this sort of level but if I can go in being as confident as I am right now I think I'll be able to get the job done."

Qantas tour of South Africa

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Jon Holland, Jhye Richardson.

Warm-up match v SA Invitational XI, Sahara Park, Benoni, Feb 22-24

First Test Kingsmead, Durban, March 1-5

Second Test St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3