Richardson ready to grab India opportunity

South Australia quick Kane Richardson is under no illusions about his rank in Australian cricket's fast bowling hierarchy, but that only serves to make the fast bowler all the more determined to impress in India.

Richardson was the beneficiary of Josh Hazlewood's side strain in the Dhaka defeat against Bangladesh, called up as the replacement fast bowler for the looming ODI series in India.

And while Australia supporters are sweating on Hazlewood's fitness with the Ashes looming, Richardson is now eyeing a chance to lock down the coveted "fifth spot" in the fast bowling pecking order, knowing the nature of the profession means you're only ever one strain or stress fracture away from a bigger opportunity.

"I'm a bit of a realist and know it takes a few injuries to get the nod," said Richardson, who was already India bound for the T20 component of the tour.

"But it's always nice to get an opportunity to play for Australia. I'm not going to turn that down but there's obviously three or four first-line bowlers that are injured at the moment."

Indeed, pace spearhead Mitchell Starc was left out of the Bangladesh and India tours as he recovers from a foot injury, while James Pattinson was withdrawn for the subcontinent tour as a precaution after some inflammation in his back. And ODI squad regular John Hastings had his winter on the UK's county circuit cut short with a foot injury.

"For me, it's all about being the next guy in if I can be," Richardson said.

"I know that if the four big quicks are up and about for Australia there's probably not going to be a lot of opportunity. But for everyone else around Australia it's trying to be in that next group.

"There's probably 10 or so behind them (Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, Pattinson) jostling for positions. Any chance you get is an opportunity to put yourself in fifth or sixth position.

"There's a lot of good quicks around the country, that's always been an area of strength of ours."

Richardson – who admitted he let National Selector Trevor Hohns' call go to voicemail because the call from Bangladesh came up without a number – will vie with Patrick Cummins and Nathan Coulter-Nile for fast bowling duties in the ODI series that remains officially unconfirmed but is widely expected to feature five matches.

And if Australia follows a similar plan to the ODI series played at the same time of year in 2013 that preceded that summer's Ashes, Cummins could be managed with England in mind, further widening the window of opportunity.

"There's always pressure when you play for Australia. If you don't perform you've got to go back to your state and do it," Richardson said.

"I'm still 26. I want to play Test cricket more than anything. If performances in one-day cricket helps that goal …. but in saying that, there's Chadd Sayers, Daniel Worrall, Jason Behrendorff... there's a lot of quicks around that want it as much as you do."

And while facing Virat Kohli's India in 50-over cricket on their home turf is one of the more challenging tasks, Richardson feels well equipped.

"You're always trying to evolve as a bowler and add something you didn't have the year before, especially in the shorter forms," Richardson said.

"If you become predictable and everyone knows your game, you're probably going to struggle.

"So it's just about trying something different, trying to find new balls, and something that the batsman's not going to expect."

Australia in India 2017

Australia ODI squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Patrick Cummins, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.

Australia T20 squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner, Jason Behrendorff, Dan Christian, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Patrick Cummins, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell, Tim Paine, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa.

India squad: TBC

Fixtures: TBC