He's played precisely one innings of one Test but former England captain Michael Vaughan has already seen enough of Jhye Richardson to suggest he be pitchforked straight into the Australian XI for the first Ashes Test.
Vaughan has been a longtime fan of Richardson, saying as far back as February of 2017 that Richardson, who was then just 20, should be considered for that next summer's Ashes series. At that point, he had played just one first-class game but Vaughan knew he looked 'seriously good'.
Jhye of the Tiger: Jhye Richardson takes his first Test wicket.Credit:AAP
Fast forward to Thursday at the Gabba and Vaughan was able to double-down on the back of Richardson's seriously good Test debut, when he took 3-26 against Sri Lanka with a fine exhibition of pinpoint and dangerous swing bowling.
The tourists were all out for 144 with Australia losing Joe Burns (15) and Usman Khawaja (11) in the chase, and will resume on Friday afternoon at 2-72 with Marcus Harris (40) and Nathan Lyon (0) at the crease.
The 22-year-old was no good thing to even play in Brisbane, with many suggesting Victorian veteran Peter Siddle as the far safer bet. But Richardson was on song from his very first over, beating the bat time and again and producing one of the balls of the summer when he demolished the stumps of Kusal Mendis with a picture-perfect outswinger.
Richardson was lively and energetic on a responsive pitch at the Gabba, which seamed and bounced like the days of old. It was a good start for new curator David Sandurski and the best day one deck of the summer.
But it was his ability to move the pink ball through the air that emboldened Vaughan to suggest that Richardson not only tour with the Australians in the English summer but be an automatic selection for the series opener at Edgebaston starting on August 1.
Vaughan said other grounds might warrant a change in the Australian rotation but Richardson was the ideal man to try and find a way through the English top order on a ground that would suit his style of bowling perfectly.
"It's Edgbaston," Vaughan told Fox Cricket. "The Richardson style of bowler is exactly what you require.
"It's a little bit slower, you pitch it up and get a bit of movement. That first game at Edgbaston, you need consistent movement and that's exactly why Jhye Richardson will do."
Hogging the headlines: young paceman Jhye Richardson (centre) took the plaudits on day one against Sri Lanka.Credit:AAP
Richardson was outstanding in his first time in the baggy green but had ample assistance from Pat Cummins, who took 4/39 as the Sri Lankans battled their way to 144, which was almost a pass mark after their early predicament.
Only Niroshan Dickwella could muster any serious resistance, making 64 from 78 in an unorthodox and entertaining knock that included a ramped six off Mitchell Starc and some T20 style wallops as the tail enders fell by the wayside.
"I didn't feel as comfortable as I would have liked in my first few overs. But for me, to see the ball swing, that's a big key for me. Then I'm instantly more confident in what I'm doing. To get that first wicket releases a lot of emotion," Richardson said.
"The longer it goes on, the harder you might try. It was good to get it early. It's been a massive learning experience for me. It's happened so quickly. To get so much experience in such a short space of time, to learn about the pressure, the better I'll be able to handle it in the long run."
Starc (2-41) had some bad luck early when a wicket was overturned on review but his patience was rewarded when he had Suranga Lakmal edging to the slips to finally bring up his 200th Test wicket.
The Sri Lankans looked uncomfortable and underprepared for the conditions in Brisbane and never looked like setting a daunting total after slumping to 5-66, with Nathan Lyon (1-38) chiming in with the pivotal wicket of opener Dimuth Karunaratne for 24.
Australia began the chase under lights and eased their way to 0-37 before recalled opener Burns missed a golden chance to fill his boots when he departed for 15. He nicked a good one from Lakmal (1-24) that swung late and found its way into the hands of Mendis, who completed a difficult catch in the cordon.
Khawaja played a messy shot to the off-spin of Dilruwan Perera and cut a dejected figure as he trudged back to the rooms after chopping one on to his leg stump, bring Lyon to the crease as nightwatchman.
He survived until stumps but not before being dropped in close by Roshen Silva off the bowling off Perera (1-4), allowing him to resume on Friday to try and advance off the mark and the Australian cause.
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