ATTACK LOOKS SET FOR A SWIFT CHANGE

THE pace attack recently branded Australia’s best ever could be broken up as part of a revamped strategy to ensure the Indian heartbreak is never repeated.

South African sources say Australia’s three Tests at Centurion and Johannesburg will take place on March 3, 12 and 21, leaving the fast bowling cartel just four days’ recovery between matches.

West Australian X-factor Jhye Richardson (pictured) is firming as a big chance to come into Australia’s squad to tour South African and could put genuine pressure on the all-star trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc to play in every match as they did against India.

Tasmanian middle-order batsman Ben McDermott also has support to be brought into the squad on the back of a big first-class and Big Bash summer and put the heat on Matthew Wade at No.5. Australia’s players will get five weeks to rejuvenate mentally and physically after their all-time battle against the Indians, with the squad expected to fly to South Africa on February 24 and re-enter a strict bubble at a golf and fishing resort 4km from Centurion.

It’s expected two Tests will be played at Centurion and one at Johannesburg – although the order is unknown, and the bouncy conditions will suit Australia’s quicks in their bid to earn a quick redemption. Selectors will soon have to pick two squads to play concurrently in different locations, with the South African Test tour overlapping with a Twenty20 tour of New Zealand in late February.

Australia’s shattering loss to India means all priority must be given to the Tests, which Tim Paine’s team must win to make it through to the World Test Championship Final in the UK in June.

Richardson has not played a Test since February 2019 after a shoulder injury cruelled his World Cup and Ashes hopes that same year.

But the 24-year-old whippet has been clocked as Australia’s fastest bowler when fit, and from his two Test matches he has six wickets at an average of 20 runs per wicket.