Richardson takes next step towards Test comeback

Jhye Richardson has taken a big step towards a Test comeback after being included in the Australia A team to face England Lions in Brisbane.

The injury-plagued quick played the most recent of his three Tests in December 2021, though he was in the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy late last summer.

But hopes of being considered for the start of the ongoing Ashes were dashed by a third bout of surgery on his troublesome right shoulder.

Richardson played for an inexperienced Cricket Australia XI in Perth late last month, his first match of competitive cricket since January.

The 29-year-old will take the next step by playing for Australia A in the four-day tour match that begins at Allan Border Field on Friday.

The likes of Michael Neser, Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett are blocking Richardson's path into the Test team, not to mention the "big-three" pacemen of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood.

But injured captain Cummins said in September he was hopeful the quick right-armer may be available to play a role in the Ashes this summer.

Overlooked for the first two Ashes Tests, allrounder Beau Webster joins Richardson in the Australia A team, which will be captained by former Test opener Nathan McSweeney.

Campbell Kellaway and Matthew Renshaw, top-order options for the Test team, also feature in the squad.

Australia A: Nathan McSweeney, Beau Webster, Campbell Kellaway, Cooper Connolly, Fergus O'Neill, Jhye Richardson, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Ryan Hadley, Todd Murphy, Xavier Bartlett.