Australia vs Sri Lanka: Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the Test series; replacement named

Australia have been dealt with a huge blow ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka. Josh Hazlewood, one of the prominent names of their pace trio, has been ruled out of the series due to a back injury. He was rested for the ODI series against India after a heavy workload in the Tests which preceded. The pace bowler who got Virat Kohli all the three times in as many ODIs, Jhye Richardson, has been named his replacement.

Richardson has been in fine form with the ball in recent months. He was Australia’s standout bowler against India, picking up six wickets in three games including his match-winning spell in the first ODI. Richardson picked up four wickets that helped Australia stun the tourists by 34 runs and walked away with the Man of the Match award.

His form in domestic cricket is equally impressive which must have paved the way for his Test call-up.  He has the third most wickets in the Sheffield Shield this season with 27 at an average of 19 in five matches. During the course of the season, he also recorded his career-best first-class figures of 8 for 47 versus New South Wales in Perth.

Richardson is likely to get a chance to make his Test debut in the upcoming season and join the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle in the team.

Ready for Tests

Jhye Richardson is raring to make his mark in red-ball cricket. The West Australian has said he was ready to leave his mark  should the opportunity come in the upcoming series. With the first Test against Sri Lanka being a day-night affair, Richardson is confident of doing the job with the pink ball.

“I have loved the pink ball. Obviously, as a group, I don’t think Australia has lost a pink-ball Test, and luckily enough for myself, I probably had one of my better games when I played at the WACA under lights,” he was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

“I am really looking forward to it. It’s going to be fantastic. The prospect of a pink ball in a Test again is great. We have seen in that twilight period the ball moves around a little bit more which is really exciting. I definitely like to swing the ball early which will be the plan if I do get to play.”

Richardson had earned his maiden Test call-up during the last year’s tour of South Africa. However, he did not play a single game as Australia lost the four-match series 1-3.

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