Australian fast bowler Jhye Richardson will play for district club Nightcliff this week

DISTRICT cricket club Nightcliff is hopeful Australian fast bowler Jhye Richardson’s playing stint in the Top End extends to more than a month.

Australian fast bowler Jhye Richardson will wear the yellow and black of Darwin districts cricket club Nightcliff this week. Picture: Saeed Khan/AFP.

DISTRICT cricket club Nightcliff is hopeful Australian fast bowler Jhye Richardson’s playing stint in the Top End extends to more than a month.

The 22-year-old West Australian will play in a 50-over match for the Tigers against unbeaten ladder leaders Southern Districts at Nightcliff Oval on Saturday,

His Top End tour and the length of it is dependent on how the repaired should responds to match conditioning.

Richardson hurt his right shoulder while attempting to take a catch in a one-day game against Pakistan in late April and has not played since.

Nightcliff president Lachlan Baird said Richardson’s stay would depend on his fitness and Cricket Australia’s plans for the right-arm quick.

“The potential is for Jhye to join the Australian side after the third Test when he could play a role towards the end of the series,’’ Baird said.

“In our case Cricket Australia looked at the fixture up here and would have noted we’re playing against Districts, who have a few contracted players over in New Zealand playing here like Graeme (Beghin) and Matty McEwin.

“So it was a case of identifying where he was going to get the best hitout in terms of Darwin cricket’s batting strengths in opposition sides.’’

Baird said his side’s fixtures in successive weeks against PINT and Districts had provided Cricket Australia with a list of possible matchups.

“With both of them boasting the strongest batting line-ups in the competition, they chose this week’s fixture.’’

Baird said the entire club was excited at the prospect of Richardson wearing the yellow Nightcliff shirt, something he would be familiar with after wearing Australian colours.

Richardson will be involved in a series of off-field events while he is in the Top End as part of Cricket Australia and Cricket NT’s hosting of the men’s T20 Strike League that hits off in Darwin on August 4.

Saturday’s Darwin and Districts Premier League clash between Nightcliff and Southern Districts begins at 11am. Canteen facilities are available.