Richardson gets chance to press Test case again

Jhye Richardson will have a golden chance to push his claims for a Test recall after being called into Australia's camp ahead of the third Ashes Test.

Richardson is poised to miss at least the first game of the Big Bash with Perth, coaching staff instead wanting him to come to Adelaide to train with the Test side.

The 29-year-old is still bowling with a Cricket Australia workload management plan and is not in line to play in the third Test.

But the fact he has been called into camp to bowl in front of coaching staff shows he remains very much in Australia's plans, despite playing his last Test in December 2022.

After undergoing shoulder surgery in January, Richardson returned to cricket with his club side Fremantle last month.

He also spent time with the Test squad ahead of the Ashes opener in Perth before playing for a Cricket Australia XI and Australia A against the England Lions.

Richardson was confident he had his pace and speed back in the second of those matches, taking 4-35 against the Lions in Brisbane last Friday.

It's expected coaching staff will decide whether to send Richardson back to the BBL or keep his focus on red-ball cricket after working with him next week.

If Richardson's bowling limits are lifted, he could theoretically come into Australia's side later in the Ashes with tight turnarounds between the third, fourth and fifth Tests.

But it would be a bold call from selectors given the form of Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett, who both helped Australia take a 2-0 series lead.

Selectors would, however, like Richardson on deck for Australia's busiest ever 12 months of Test cricket with 21 matches between August 2026 and August 2027.

Australia's fast-bowling depth has already been pushed this summer with Pat Cummins missing the first two Ashes Tests and Josh Hazlewood out for the series.

Richardson would likely have earned a call up in their place if not for his own injuries.

But Scott Boland's iconic Boxing Day debut a week later saw the Victorian join Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc as part of Australia's pace-bowling quartet.

Australia had not been required to play a frontline quick outside of those four in the three years since until this summer, while Richardson has also had his own injury woes in that time.

But the fact he has twice been called into the Test camp this summer is a clear sign the West Australian remains every bit a part of long-term plans.