Rookie Richardson defies doubters as quick option
JHYE Richardson was told by junior coaches he was too small to bowl fast.
Yet despite giving away the best part of a foot in height to the rest of the Australian attack, the 21- year- old bolt from the blue has been backed in as the country’s new 145km/ h enforcer to terrorise South Africa.
Richardson was yesterday plucked from the same kind of obscurity as Pat Cummins was for the corresponding tour of South Africa way back in 2011, and with just five Sheffield Shield matches under his belt the West Australian rookie is in the frame for a stunning debut against one of the world’s best sides in March.
The back seat of the bus reserved for Australia’s fast bowling cartel is the land of the giants with Mitchell Starc ( 197cm), Josh Hazlewood ( 196cm), Pat Cummins ( 192cm) and Jackson Bird ( 195cm) towering over batsmen.
Richardson stands at just 178cm and is weighs in just over 70kg wringing wet, but he has been welcomed warmly into the fold following chronic injuries to James Pattinson and Nathan Coulter- Nile.
Australia once again overlooked South Australian Chadd Sayers because they felt he is too same- same to seamer Bird, and so Richardson was called up because he bowls with the kind of speed that could see him fill the shoes of a Starc or Cummins if they were struck down by injury.
It’s a good thing Richardson didn’t listen to those saying he wasn’t built for fast bowling.
“( It happened) actually quite a lot,” said Richardson.
“I’m only 70- odd kg and 178cm tall so I’m not the biggest unit around.
“But it’s always something in your head that you always want to prove people wrong and I think that’s been my attitude from the start.
“If someone is going to beat me down, why not prove them wrong.”