Jhye Richardson replaces Josh Hazlewood in Australia team for second Ashes Test

GEORGE DOBELL: Hazlewood sustained a side strain in the first Test and was deemed unavailable for selection. Richardson replacing him is the only change in the Australia team for the match. David Warner will play through the pain of a rib injury

Australia have confirmed that Jhye Richardson will replace Josh Hazlewood in their team for the second Test in Adelaide.

Richardson, the 25-year-old fast bowler, played two Tests in February 2019 and looked set for a prolonged period in the Australian setup. But he dislocated a shoulder in an ODI against Pakistan, which eventually necessitated surgery, meant he subsequently missed the World Cup and the Ashes the same year.

He claimed five wickets in his first Test, though – like this one, a day-night encounter – and has looked back to his best this season in taking 23 Shield wickets at a cost of just 13.43 apiece.

He has been preferred in the Test team to Michael Neser, who claimed a five-for against England Lions last week, with his captain, Pat Cummins, suggesting Richardson will “probably” take the new ball alongside Mitchell Starc.

Hazlewood sustained a side strain in the first Test and was deemed unavailable for selection. Richardson replacing him is the only change in the Australia team for the match.

“They are two really good options,” Pat Cummins, the Australia captain, said. “Ness has been with us on a lot of tours previously and Jhye has been battling his way back since 2019.

“But if we go back to 2019 he played two really good Test matches. He was on the verge of an Ashes series and a World Cup before he had his shoulder injury and he's worked incredibly hard. He has had a great start to this year for Western Australia in Shield cricket and we just think he's firing. We’re really excited to see him out there.

^{Jhye Richardson plays for Australia in Adelaide (Mark Brake/Getty Images)}

“He made his debut up at the Gabba with a pink ball, too. He took four or five [his match figures were 5 for 45] wickets in that game. I’m sure [that experience with the pink ball] is part of the reason [for his selection].

“The biggest difference between him and Hazlewood is the stature. Jhye is slightly shorter and skiddier, as opposed to Josh's height and bounce.

“He's really skilled, too. He can swing the ball both ways and he's a bit faster – around the 140kph mark - than you think. He's really consistent: in Shield cricket he's bowled 20 overs for 20 runs a few times.

“The biggest change might be to have Cam Green to lean on as the fourth pace option. We might get him into the game a bit more. Nathan [Lyon] always finds a bit of spin here, too, so we’re not short of options.

“Josh is a big void to fill. He’s one of the best in the word and hard to replace. But we feel really confident Jhye can step straight in. The overall package of what he has shown in Shield cricket over the last few months has put him next in line. He’s been bowling fantastically so I don’t think we’ll see too much change. He's more than ready to go.”

Australia have also confirmed that David Warner, who suffered a rib injury in Brisbane, will play in the second Test. Warner took little part in the first Test after sustaining a couple of thumping blows while scoring 94 in Australia’s first innings. Despite some obvious discomfort when he returned to the nets on Tuesday, however, he has been deemed fit to play.

“I'm sure he'll be fine,” Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, said. “It's not an injury like a broken bone or anything that will get any worse. It just might be a bit of discomfort. In terms of fielding he's normally in the slips and I'm guessing he'll stay there, he's not said anything different.

^{David Warner will play through the pain of a rib injury (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)}

“If Davey didn't feel like he could be as good as he normally is he wouldn't be playing. He's sore, but I don't think he's going to bat any different to how he normally would.”

Meanwhile Cummins said he would “love to” pick the brains of James Anderson. Cummins is currently the top rated bowled in the ICC’s Test rankings but Anderson, with 632, has taken more wickets than any other seamer in Test history and, incredibly really, remains a force at 39 years of age.

“I haven’t really picked his brains over bowling yet, but I would love to,” Cummins said. “He’s fantastic: 150-odd Test matches and the leading wicket-taker for England.

“The longevity is what is really impressive. You get niggles and injuries constantly as a fast bowler and he’s been at it constantly as a fast bowler for nearly two decades. It just shows it is possible to be bowling into your late 30s and still be at the top of your game.

“He’s going to bring a lot of experience and class to their side if he plays and is going to be a challenge but he is someone that our batters are really familiar with facing. There are not too many unknowns with him but there is an obvious class and experience he brings.”

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