Cricket World Cup 2019: Kane Richardson thought Aussie career was over after England T20 horror

He may be back in vogue now but there was a time not so long ago that Kane Richardson ‘stopped caring’ about Aussie selection as he fell down the pecking order.

Kane Richardson impressed against Pakistan earlier this week.

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Pace bowler Kane Richardson had to give up on caring about selection before regaining his place in Australia’s one-day squad.

Called back into the side for the win over Pakistan, Richardson is a chance to retain his spot against Sri Lanka this weekend.

But regardless, his effort to play even just one match at the World Cup is significant given his position in the team a year ago.

Kane Richardson impressed against Pakistan earlier this week.

Belted in a Twenty20 against England last year, coach Justin Langer has since admitted he didn’t believe Richardson would ever play international cricket again.

And the South Australian said he could sense that feeling from Langer at the time.

“I went to the tour of Zimbabwe after it and I didn’t play a game. So you learn pretty quick you’re out of the pecking order,” Richardson said.

“I kind of stopped caring about (selection) to be honest, because there is no point crying about it.

“I just thought if I do never end up playing again then so be it. I will do whatever I can to play ... It is what it is.

Kane Richardson is happy to be back in the Australian fold.

“You just go back and do your best and I think that’s what happened over the summer. I just took some wickets and all of a sudden a few blokes fall down and you’re in.”

Richardson went for figures of 0-59 in the Twenty20 at Edgbaston last July, and did not play for Australia again in any format until March this year.

Langer said before this year’s World Cup Richardson was a role model for all players, after the coach “didn’t think he had the bottle” for international cricket following that performance.

Langer never told Richardson that directly at the time, but the message wasn’t missed as the 28-year-old topped the wicket-taking charts in last summer’s Big Bash with 24 at 17.7 apiece.

“I would have challenged him if he did (tell me that),” Richardson said.

“Any time anyone questions your bottle, I’m pretty strong and I think my competitiveness has always been a strong trait of mine.

“It was good to read (at the start of the World Cup) and know he thought that and know I made progress, that’s a positive.

“But at the time I was pretty disappointed in my performance then, and knew something had to change.”