Forgotten Aussie quick Jhye Richardson’s high-five injury scare after perfect return

One of Australia’s most promising fast bowlers has sent a scare through the sport after a freak injury after a stunning Sheffield Shield return.

Aussie quick Jhye Richardson’s return to red ball cricket has almost gone from a dream to a nightmare with the space of two balls in his Sheffield Shield return.

Having been sidelined from Western Australia’s first four games of the season, Richardson returned to Shield cricket against South Australia.

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After scoring 29 with the bat at No. 9 in WA’s 373 all out which was headlined by a maiden first-class century for Jayden Goodwin (139), Richardson was right on the money with the ball in hand.

In his first over, Richardson took two wickets in two balls with the final two balls of his over.

He trapped Conor McInerney and Daniel Drew both LBW for golden ducks in successive balls to be on a hat-trick.

Fired up by the double strike, Richardson took off towards the slips and high-fiving teammates along the way.

Until the third high-five, when he clutched his shoulder.

Despite looking in a lot of trouble with fears he could have dislocated his shoulder, Richardson was cleared of any serious injury and even returned to bowl taking the wicket of Thomas Kelly in his first over after returning.

That's as brutal as it gets. Photo: Fox Sports

It's not what you want to see. Photo: Fox Sports

But it was a scare the 28-year-old quick didn’t need after what has been injury-prone so far in his career.

After debuting in Test cricket in 2019, Richardson has suffered fourth hamstring injuries, as well as copping a shoulder injury that required surgery while fielding for Australia in a game in India also in 2019.

The setbacks have limited Richardson to just three Tests, 15 ODI and 18 T20Is for Australia.

Thankfully the tweak wasn’t serious as it could have been.

Richardson, who last played for Australia in June 2022 in ODIs and T20Is in Sri Lanka, earned a national contract last season, meaning he was well in the selectors plans if he can stay healthy.

His last Test was in 2021.

Richardson didn’t look in a good way. Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images

Speaking to Fox Sports in September, Richardson revealed that after all the injuries, he had doubts whether he could get back to the top.

“You have those moments where you question yourself, about whether you’re still as skilful as what you were a couple of years ago, when everything was going alright,” Richardson told Fox Cricket in September.

“I’m not even thinking about Australian selection at the moment, it’s about stringing together some games and actually performing for myself.”

With a five-Test series against India potentially requiring resting for Australia’s frontline quicks, a healthy Richardson, who has a Test average of 22.09 with 11 wickets, could be a good option along with Scott Boland.

But just staying healthy will also be important for Richardson, who at 28, is younger than all three of Australia’s frontline quicks of Pat Cummins, 31, Josh Hazlewood, 33, and Mitchell Starc, 34, while regular fill-in and back up quick Scott Boland is 35.