Ashes 2021: David Warner fit, Jhye Richardson back for Australia in Pink Ball Test in Adelaide

Richardson who has played just two Test's so far, last played a red ball match for Australia in 2019 against Sri Lanka.

Australia opener David Warner; Credit: Twitter/@ICC
By Sreejith C R | Dec 15, 2021 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Australia opener David Warner is fit to play while Jhye Richardson replaces Josh Hazlewood for the second day-night Ashes Test in Adelaide. Warner has recovered from the rib injury he sustained during his impressive knock of 94 in the first innings of the first Test match. Meanwhile, Richardson who has played just two Tests last played for Australia in 2019 against Sri Lanka. Pacer Hazlewood was ruled out for the Adelaide Test because of a side strain.

Australia defeated England by nine wickets in the first Test to take a 1-0 lead in the 2021 Ashes series. Richardson beat out Michael Neser for the spot in Australia’s attack with Cummins, Mitchell Starc and off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Warner suffered bruised ribs after taking a few body blows during his first innings in Brisbane. The 35-year-old southpaw smashed 11 boundaries and two maximums before falling just six short of century. He didn’t take the field in England’s second innings nor did he bat in the 20-run chase on Day 4 as a precautionary measure.

“I flew home with him a couple of days ago. His (David Warner) family came into Adelaide which was nice. And he felt like he was in a good space. Obviously he was a little bit sore, we didn’t take any risks with him only needing 20.

“He was going to bat but in the end our bowlers did a fantastic job to give him a day off. So I think for him it was just rest. I think he’s ready to go. So no issues for David,” Travis Head told reporters on Tuesday morning.

Richardson has big shoes to fill

Hazlewood took three wickets in the first Test and is one of those ballers, known for their precise line and length. The 30-year-old pacer is one of the best Test bowlers in world cricket right now and his absence will be a huge miss for the Baggy Greens.

Hazlewood, along with Starc and Cummins forms one of the most lethal pace attacks. Therefore Richardson has big shoes to fill. The left-arm pacer has done well in the limited over formats and his decent batting ability would be handy for the Aussies. 

In the first Test, the Australian pacers did a brilliant job to restrict England for just 147 in the first innings. Cummins took 5 wickets and became the first captain to do so in Ashes since 1982.

In response, the home side scored a mammoth total of 425 courtesy of half centuries from Warner and Marnus Labuschagne and a brilliant 152 from Head. 

The Mountain was too big for England to climb in the second Test and they accumulated 287 runs before being dismissed. A target of 20 was set for Australia and they achieved it with the loss of just one wicket.





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