Brush with fame helps Jhye make the leap

A maiden Test tour would be nerve-wracking for any cricketer, but the transition becomes a touch easier when you've already shared a dressing room with the some of the greatest players to take a cricket field.

That certainly seems to be the case for rising fast-bowling talent Jhye Richardson as he eyes a potential Test debut on the Qantas Tour of South Africa.

Back in December 2014, a teenage Richardson was handed the opportunity to play alongside the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Brian Lara and Justin Langer in an exhibition match that pitted a Legends XI against the Perth Scorchers as part of their preparation for the upcoming KFC BBL season.

Richardson, then 18 years old, shared the new ball with World Cup champion Andy Bichel as the raw tearaway sent down four wicketless overs to a Scorchers batting line-up comprised of players who he would go on to team up with in state and BBL cricket in the following years.

The chance to see these legends up close – Lara turned back the clock with a mesmerising 51 not out – is an experience that has stayed with Richardson as he continues his rise through the ranks of Australian cricket.

"That was a phenomenal experience for me," Richardson told cricket.com.au when reflecting on that encounter.

"That's something I'll remember for the rest of my life. It's one of the greatest cricketing experiences that I have.

"To be able to play in that team and then play against them for the Scorchers (in 2016), it's almost indescribable because you see all those guys growing up and they're absolute legends of the game.

"It's definitely a fond memory of mine."

Richardson returned to the same event two years later, this time emerging as a key cog in Perth's pace attack, where he would claim the wicket of Lara – a wicket to savour no matter the legendary left-hander's advanced age.

The 21-year-old quick has since gone on to play an integral role in a BBL title triumph with the Scorchers, JLT Cup success with Western Australia and a one-day international debut last month against England, as well as making a promising start to his first-class career with 22 wickets from his six JLT Sheffield Shield outings to date.

Richardson, one of two uncapped players on tour in South Africa, believes his early exposure to the game's greats has helped him in making each leap on his way up to the Test squad.

"That sort of game, you get the message drilled in to you about discipline and being a smarter bowler," Richardson said after training at The Wanderers in Johannesburg.

"Even though that's T20 cricket there's still a lot to learn from them.

"All the experiences I've had playing cricket already have helped me to become a better bowler and that one especially."

An injury to one of Australia's star quicks would seem Richardson's only avenue to a Test debut on this tour, but the WA quick with the whippy action has been eager to impress on his maiden international tour.

With Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins setting the standard in Australia's intense net sessions over the past two days, Richardson has looked to match each of them with his skiddy speed and movement through the air going both ways in the swing-conducive conditions.

"Obviously it's every child's dream to get the Baggy Green," Richardson said.

"Hopefully the body holds up, I keep bowling well in the nets and we'll see what happens."

Qantas tour of South Africa

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

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