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Jhye Richardson Eyes Boxing Day Test Comeback After Shoulder Surgery Recovery

Hey, it looks like Jhye Richardson is pushing for a comeback to the Australian squad for the Boxing Day Test after recovering from shoulder surgery. With Pat Cummins likely to rest after retaining the Ashes, there's a spot open in the pace attack. Richardson has been building his form in grade cricket and for Australia A, making a strong case for selection. However, fit bowlers like Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland

Key Points: Jhye Richardson in Contention for Australia's Boxing Day Test Squad | Ashes 2023

  • Jhye Richardson eyes Test return after shoulder surgery recovery
  • Pat Cummins may rest after Australia retains Ashes
  • Vacancy opens in pace attack for Melbourne and Sydney Tests
  • Richardson's gradual comeback included wickets for Australia A
  • Selectors weigh Richardson against Neser and Doggett for Boxing Day
  • Series context allows Australia to reassess player workload and risk
3 min read

Ashes: Jhye Richardson eye return to Australia's squad for Boxing Day Test against England

Australian pacer Jhye Richardson targets return for Melbourne Test against England after recovering from shoulder surgery, as Pat Cummins may rest.

"Good luck to anyone telling Starcy or even Scotty Boland that they're going to miss a Boxing Day Test if they're fully fit. - Pat Cummins / Australia Test Captain"

Melbourne, December 22

Right-arm speedster Jhye Richardson is eyeing a comeback in Australia's squad for the upcoming Boxing Day Test in Melbourne against England following a successful recovery from shoulder surgery, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins is expected to sit out of the Melbourne Ashes Test, and potentially the rest of the series, with Australia retaining the Ashes after an emphatic 82-run win over the Ben Stokes-led England in Adelaide, which helped the Aussies to gain an unbeaten 3-0 lead in the ongoing five-match Ashes series.

If Pat Cummins sit out, then there is a vacant space in the Australian pace attack for the remainder of the Test matches against England in Melbourne and Sydney.

Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser, who played earlier in the series, are also in contention to return to the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test, but according to ESPNcricinfo, Richardson is very close to being in consideration.

Notably, the right-arm pacer Richardson trained with the Australian side ahead of Adelaide but was not part of the squad.

If Richardson's is included in the Test side, it would come exactly a year after he was last included, against India in the Boxing Day Test. Shortly after that, the speedster opted to undergo shoulder surgery to fix long-standing issues and was ruled out of action for nearly 12 months.

Richardson has made a gradual return to action in recent months, starting in grade cricket before playing for a Cricket Australia XI against England Lions. He then featured for Australia A against the Lions, where he increased his workload, claiming five wickets across 26 overs.

Till now, Richardson has played three Test matches since making his debut in 2018-19. The pacer has picked up 11 wickets at an average of 22.09.

After retaining the Ashes in Adelaide, Cummins said that there are no injury concerns for speedsters Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland ahead of the Boxing Day Test.

"We had a pretty aggressive build-up knowing that it's the Ashes there to be won and we thought that was worth it," he said. "Now that the series has been won, there might be a sense of job's done and let's reassess the risk," Cummins said.

"Good luck to anyone telling Starcy or even Scotty Boland that they're going to miss a Boxing Day Test if they're fully fit," he added. (ANI).

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Interesting situation. With the Ashes retained, it's the perfect time to give a young pacer like Richardson a chance. But Cummins' quote is spot on—good luck telling Starc or Boland to sit out a Boxing Day Test! The competition is healthy for the team.
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Priya S
His last Test was against India in Melbourne! I remember that match. He bowled with good pace. Wishing him a full and strong recovery. Injuries are a fast bowler's worst enemy. Hope he gets his spot back and has a long career ahead.
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Rohit P
Australia's system is so good. A player gets injured, goes through surgery and rehab, works his way back through grade cricket and A teams, and is ready to slot back in. We need this kind of structured pathway in India for our pacers too, beyond just the IPL.
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Vikram M
Respectfully, I think they should stick with the winning combination. Starc and Boland are in form. Why change it? Richardson can wait for the Sydney Test or the next series. Don't fix what isn't broken, even if the series is won.
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Kavya N
Boxing Day Test at the MCG is a dream for any cricketer. Can't imagine the feeling of playing in front of that crowd. Best of luck to Jhye! Hope he gets the opportunity. From an Indian perspective, just happy to see good fast bowling, whoever plays! 🙌

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