Jhye Richardson, the young Australian pacer made a big mark in the series against India which the hosts lost 1-2. The Western Australian pacer got the wicket of Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket team skipper and the greatest batsman of the modern era, in all the three ODIs. Richardson’s aggression and pace stood-out and he was selected to make his Test debut in the Pink Ball Test against Sri Lanka in Brisbane. Richardson did not disappoint and made a rousing start to his Test career, taking 3/26 in 14 overs. His first wicket was skipper Dinesh Chandimal for 5 but his dismissal of Kusal Mendis with a pacy legcutter was considered the best of the day. After he got the wicket of Dhananjaya de Silva, Richardson capped off a memorable day.
But did you know Richardson owns a plot of land on the moon? In a recent interaction with his family by Cricket Australia, Jhye’s brother Jess purchased a notional plot of land on the moon as a 21st birthday gift for Jhye in September 2017. Richardson’s entire family was present when he was handed the Baggy Green by former Australia pacer Damien Fleming.
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Speaking about the achievement of his son, Jhye’s father Jim Richardson said getting to play Tests was the ultimate achievement for his son who had always set goals for himself from a young age. “There have been so many things that he’s achieved – getting the international caps, getting (India captain Virat) Kohli out (in three consecutive ODIs this month). But the highlight for us has been simply seeing him achieving those goals that he’s clearly set himself, watching him reach each one of those was such a buzz because he has said all along ‘that is what I want to do’ and he’d set about getting there. Now that he’s there, the next goal is to stay there,†Jhye’s father said.
Jhye Richardson talks about everything going through his mind before and on his first day as an Australian Test cricketer#AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/iKWwXK62RO
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 25, 2019
The young pacer from Western Australia counts Dale Steyn as one of his role models and with his good start in both Tests and ODIs, Richardson could be one of the prominent bowlers to have staked a claim for the Ashes in England which will be played after the end of the World Cup in 2019 which will also be played in England.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Jhye Richardson dismissed Kohli in all three ODIs.
- Richardson owns a plot of land on the moon.
- Richardson took three wickets in the Pink Ball Test vs Sri Lanka.