'The focus is now on Sri Lanka series' - Jhye Richardson sad but understands why he has to miss Pakistan tour

Australia’s promising pacer Jhye Richardson finally got a chance to don the Test jersey after a wait of three long years against arch-rivals England in the recently-concluded Ashes series. He replaced frontline pacer, Josh Hazlewood, in the second Test that was played at the Adelaide Oval under lights just before Christmas break, and even though he managed to register a match-winning fifer, an injury to his left foot and shin kept him out for the rest of the series.

Now, it has been reported that Richardson would be missing the away Test series against Pakistan due to his long history of injuries. Meanwhile, the young speedster himself is convinced with Cricket Australia’s decision to rest him for that series.

“These conversations have always been positive, there’s never been a negative word said regardless. It’s making sure we’re in the best place possible to play for the next 10 years, and making sure the body is right and 100 percent moving forward”, said Jhye Richardson as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

“It would be exciting to play Test cricket in the subcontinent, it’s a big challenge. But for me now the focus is most certainly on the Sri Lankan series with another T20 World Cup coming up”, he added.

I have pulled my shin muscles, says Jhye Richardson

Jhye Richardson has also said that he had gone for a scan on the shin which showed that the muscle was pulling on the bone a little bit but, he has somehow managed to keep himself going in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) where he represents Perth Scorchers who have already qualified for the final.

“I had a scan on it [the shin], and it showed the muscle was pulling on the bone a little bit, so there was a little bit of stress there, which is why it’s taken longer to settle down. But throughout the whole time, it’s been functional. I’ve been able to play and bowl throughout that whole series and then moving into Scorchers stuff,” Richardson added.

The Aussies will be visiting Pakistan for an all-format bilateral series in March that includes three Tests, as many ODIs, and a one-off T20I.