Fast bowler Jhye Richardson eyes off Ashes return to Test cricket after stunning BBL season

He missed the Test squad for South Africa but Jhye Richardson has the Ashes in mind as the Big Bash leading wicket-taker eyes off his baggy green return.

Jhye Richardson took the most wickets in the BBL this season and is in the Australian T20 squad to play New Zealand . Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

Fast bowler Jhye Richardson has conceded he probably wasn’t ready to step up to Test cricket again but has the Ashes next summer in mind as he makes his international return via the national T20 team.

The 24-year-old, who has played two Tests for Australia and is well and truly part of the extended national arsenal, was the standout bowler in the Big Bash regular season that marked his return to cricket from dual shoulder operations.

Richardson snared a season-high 27 wickets for the Perth Scorchers that fuelled speculation of a quick return to the Test squad for the tour of South Africa.

But chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said medical advice suggested Richardson wasn’t quite ready for the rigours of Test cricket, having not played any Sheffield Shield games this summer.

Richardson, although he wouldn’t have said no to a Test call-up, was happy to settle for inclusion in the T20 squad instead.

“I was happy either way. I’m stoked to be on the plane to New Zealand,” Richardson said on Thursday.

“There‘s no questions for me there about that decision, so all good from my end.

“Dealing with such a long injury and such a long recovery time and not having an opportunity to really test it in the longer format just yet, for me it makes sense.

“I have full confidence in myself to be able to play longer format but not having done it for the last, ages, it’s hard to see how it would actually go.

“It is a big jump (from T20s to Test cricket). The most obvious difference would be from bowling four overs to potentially 20 or 25 in a day, and that’s something I haven’t tested out yet.

“I‘m not saying it can’t be done or it won’t be able to be done in the future, but at this stage, like I said before, I have full confidence in the decision and I’m very happy to be on the plane to NZ.”

Here's 2️⃣ 7️⃣ reasons why Richo is in the #BBL10 Team of the Tournament 😏 #MADETOUGH pic.twitter.com/8rpOvFVi6v

— Perth Scorchers (@ScorchersBBL) January 27, 2021

Hohns said Richardson was discussed “at length” during selection meetings before they decided on the T20 path back.

“We took advice from the medical people, and in the end it was decided that his comeback to international cricket should be gradual … and coming back with the T20 tour would be the ideal comeback for him,” he said.

The extended Sheffield Shield season, which will run until the final in the middle of April, could allow Richardson to get in some red-ball games when the five-match series against the Kiwis concludes.

That could help Richardson push his claims for selection in what looms as a blockbuster Ashes series next summer.

“Test cricket is always the pinnacle. It‘s something I’m still aspiring for,” Richardson said.

“My two Test matches a couple of years ago were one of the best moments in my life.

“To be able to get back and play Test cricket would be fantastic.”