Young quick Jhye Richardson starred on Test debut yesterday as Australia made a strong start to the series against Sri Lanka.
Coming off three consecutive Test series losses – against South Africa, Pakistan and most recently India – Australia desperately needed to get off to a flyer in this two-Test series.
They did just that in Brisbane on the back of some wonderful bowling from Richardson (3-26) and Pat Cummins (4-39). That pair helped Australia roll Sri Lanka for just 144 before going to stumps at 2-72.
Cummins may have grabbed the best figures for Australia but it was Richardson who was the pick of the home attack.
While many players take some time to feel their way into Test cricket, Richardson looked at home immediately.
In fact he easily could have had a wicket with his first delivery, the ball lobbing off the bat of Lahiru Thirimanne just wide of short leg.
Then, with his fourth ball, Richardson had a big LBW shout when Thirimanne shouldered arms only for the ball to swing back into the left hander late.
Another close LBW decision followed from the first ball of Richardson’s second over when late swing, once more, fooled Dimuth Karunaratne.
Richardson continued to trouble both of these left handers throughout the first 45 minutes.
Finally, with the last ball of his sixth over, he grabbed his first Test wicket when he earned an edge from Dinesh Chandimal with a lovely ball that angled into the Sri Lankan skipper and then seamed away.
But it was Richardson’s second wicket that will have widened the eyes of cricket fans. Again he angled the ball in towards young gun Kusal Mendis and then got it to shape away so late that the Sri Lankan had no hope of countering this movement.
It rattled Mendis’ stumps, just as it would have done to any batsman in the world. It was nigh-on unplayable.
Then, to underline that he has brains as well as skill, Richardson set up Roshen Silva in classic fashion.
First he went wide on the crease and bowled two straight, back-of-a-length deliveries which carried on with the arm.
Then Richardson went closer to the stumps, pitched the ball up and watched it swing away from the driving blade of Silva, who was sucked in to edging it behind.
The late swing the debutant earned consistently was the result of Richardson’s beautiful upright seam position, something which was a feature of his bowling all day.
This ensured that he not only made the most of the swing on offer but also found plenty of seam movement.
When India beat Australia 2-1 last month it was notable that Indian quicks Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma each consistently had better seam position than the Australian pacemen.
Richardson’s great seam position and fine precision made him the most impressive bowler of the day from either side.
Australia then had to negotiate a tricky 25-over session under lights against a hooping pink ball. That swing accounted for opener Joe Burns, who nicked a fantastic delivery from Suranga Lakmal which swung sharply and very late.
Then experienced number three Usman Khawaja continued his very poor summer when he aimed a reckless cut shot at a delivery from off-spinner Dilruwan Perera which was far too straight for that stroke.
Khawaja’s irresponsible dismissal just before stumps gives him an average of 26 from five Tests this summer.
Australian batsman Usman Khawaja. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Marcus Harris finished unbeaten on 40 but was lucky to have done so. The left-hander has made a habit of wasting starts at Test level and almost did so again several times in the final hour before stumps.
Once he reached 20 Harris became skittish, playing and missing about half a dozen times. But he should find batting far easier today in the daylight against a weathered ball.
If he can push on and make a ton, Harris will steal a march on some of his teammates and book his Ashes spot in advance.
Speaking of the Ashes, Richardson’s swing bowling masterclass yesterday will surely have the Australian selectors wondering what he could do with a Dukes ball in England.
Max Power
Guest
Thanks for your interest in whether or not I watch the shield. And I have spent plenty of time playing and watching grade cricket in Sydney but I wouldn't know how fast they were bowling because there is no speed guns and the difference in speeds is actually quite subtle and would be very hard to tell without a speed gun.
RogerTA
Roar Rookie
Jeez, so Lordy may have been right all along calling for Cummins to take the new ball?
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Thanks for your interest in what I can and can’t say “Max”. I’m a WA fan and have watched Richardson bowl tons of overs at domestic level – some of us cricket fans actually enjoy watching the Shield mate. And I’ve regularly seen him bowling quicker than that with the same level of control and swing.
Max Power
Guest
Ronan I'm sorry but given the Richardson has only played 12 first class games I don't think you can say you've seen him bowl at that pace with the same movement and accuracy plenty of times.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Good to have him in the wings. Haze and Starc weren't impressive in England last time round, so it will be interesting to see if Jhye gets a run over there at some point.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
They are our best 3 quicks. Why change them? None of them bowl over 145kph...except an occasional on by Starc. Cummins and Hazlewood are almost always under 140kph. In your desire for an argumebt, I think you've forgotten what you are saying. You're all over the place.
Rob
Guest
So Langer is not following the same Lehman script. So what changes were made bowling wise to that of last Home series with Lehman in charge? Same bowlers same tactics. How are those Scorchers going with the big 3 back Don?
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Glenn McGrath was a 'great' bowler (test and 1st class avgs 21 and 20 respectively). Dennis Lillee was a 'great' bowler (test and 1st class avgs in the 23s). Mitch Starc is in the category of very good, averages around the 28 mark which is similar territory to the likes of Merv Hughes and Craig McDermott. You may not think much of Siddle - however - as what was often the 2nd change bowler (when 4 quicks in action) - the in to the wind workhorse - he's done okay to be in the 200 test wicket club that Starc has just joined. Too right Starc has a better SR (51 vs 62) - he gets the new cherry every time. Too right Starc has a better average (28.9 vs 30.28) - but - not nearly as clear cut as it would be were Starc a 'great'. Siddle has the better economy rate - part of his role. Right now - at age 34 - I watched Siddle bowling in the shield earlier vs QLD and he was bowling beautifully, the pick of the bowlers - he's still a very good bowler and perhaps has learned a thing or too along the way - his Country form was excellent in 2018 - they'll include him in the squad and there will likely be a couple of tests in particular where he will be under serious consideration. For now though - I'm bemused by the permanancy of his 12th man duties which has denied him cricket. Anyway - Starc - hasn't been a match winning bowler since Durban and since he started really struggling with the ankle injury. He then had hammy issues. Injury meaning he was a shadow of himself. How long to you carry a guy who is underperforming for whatever reason? Damn right I'd drop him - in part - for his own good.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think you're being hopeful throwing Maxwell into the mix but nevertheless, an in-form keeper/batsman would certainly balance out the side.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Not so. Better off with the same movement and accuracy at a faster pace, which Jhye is capable of, as I've seen many times.
Simoc
Guest
Siddle like Labuschagne is a selectors bunny. They don't deserve to be there and shouldn't be there. They're good Shield players at best. Starc is a great bowler and not in great form but you don't drop your best match winning bowler, especially when it is the batsman that are the weak link. And they have been for awhile. Poor old Ronan away with the fairies again, such is his statistical adherance and lack of game nouse.
Simoc
Guest
Not so. Better off with the movement at a slower pace. More pace when conditions are less favourable.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You'd better read your first comment. You think Langer subscribes to the 145kph plus idea. I day he doesn't and never did. If he did, he would not be picking Siddle who has been in Langer's set up all along. Fancy having to explain that! Did you forget you wrote that bit about the 145plus stuff?
Rob
Guest
What are going on about ? Siddle isn't playing and you are the only person carrying on about it. I didn't say anything about Siddle. I'm discussing line, lengths, seam position, bowling tactics and bowling consistently accurate. Please take a break and watch some cricket Don.
Rob
Guest
Chris, we have probably looked at the same study. 2 piece- balls are different to 4- piece Grade or Test standard balls. No offence but anyone can swing a 2-piece at any time. A quality 4-piece ball is much harder to swing. If they are a good quality Test standard ball they are close to gun barrel straight. The difference in drag on the rough/shiny side obviously effect friction (humidity is a factor) on the ball causing movement. Back spin and over spin cause balls to behave differently through the air due to friction causing them to drop or float further. If you can create more back spin on release the ball will travel further and swing more. Baseball pitchers make a living doing this. Spinners can create drift (swing) if they put good revs on the ball and the seam stays in position. The drag starts working with speed through the air at 140plus with ball not revolving. A good release keeps the seam in a stable position. Put back spin on the ball and it increase surface drag. You can create a lower ball speed drag(swing) by increasing the back spin. This swings earlier and almost from the hand. It's pure physics. Sorry but I think you are being naive and slightly arrogant dismissing a research published paper as bogus, on the basis of your personal park cricket bowling with different ball makes.
Brian
Guest
Yes if Wade came in and batted 6 you could bat Cummins at 7 and play 5 bowlers. Warner, Harris, Head, Smith, Maxwell, Wade, Cummins, Starc, Richardson, Lyon, Hazlewood.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
But it’s bizarre to discover today that Sri Lanka has the fastest bowler in the match!
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
And can we assume that Siddle has been held in reserve and in the squad all this time with the express view of having more than a passing role in England. Or is he just a consultant?? Of course - it's one thing for the selectors to p155 in his pocket in Nov/Dec and tell him it's raining - but - come May/June it might be a totally different story!
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
They may look like Sydney Grade level to you but four of them have better records at Test level than 3 of our guys do in first class. Chandimal has a better Test average than any of our top 6, at 43.5, with 11 centuries. That’s more hundreds than our top 6 combined (10 between Khawaja and Burns). Karunaratne has an acceptable Test average of 37, with 8 tons, and was picked in some people’s top Test XI for 2018, scoring 743 at 46.4 last year. Kusal Mendis - 38 with 6 tons, his first one being a series tipping 176 vs Australia in 2016. Roshan Silva also averages 38. The only obvious weak link is Thirimanne, averaging 23.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Bumrah 6 LBWs and 6 bowleds. Australia 1 LBW for the entire series and that to Lyon. Bumrah, Kumar and Shami are all listed as 1.78m (same as Richardson).