Injury-prone Cricket Australia have contracted the pace duo of Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson are set for a white-ball comeback. Both fast bowlers have been named in Western Australia’s 14-man squad for their One-Day Cup debut against New South Wales and South Australia, on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively, at Cricket Central in Sydney.
Morris has not played cricket at any level since facing the club in February in what was his second ODI, an injury ending his season. Routine scans during the off-season showed a hot spot on his back even though he felt no pain. Morris was dropped from playing in Major League Cricket, and was not considered for Australia’s limited overs tour of the UK.
Richardson, on the other hand, has played in the winter after suffering gruesome hamstring and shoulder injuries in recent seasons. He played one match in the IPL for Delhi Capitals, then played three matches for Perth Scorchers in the Top End T20 Series in Darwin in August.
Richardson’s return to domestic 50-over cricket is another step forward, but it remains to be seen whether he will be ready to return to first-class cricket with the Sheffield Shield in October.
Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar has also been named in the WA squad, joining Behrendorff and Tye after opting to become an independent cricketer.
Cameron Bancroft looks set to keep wicket for WA, with Josh Inglis out on national duty. Former WA wicketkeeper and 50-overs opener Josh Philippe will face his old club on Sunday for the first time since moving to New South Wales. Philippe was a key part of WA’s hat-trick of One-Day Cup titles, having won all three and was named Player of the Tournament in 2022-23.
WA are looking to become the first men’s team in Australia’s domestic one-day history to claim four consecutive titles, having won five of the past seven.
Elsewhere, Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith will miss Tasmania’s opening two One-Day Cup matches against Victoria and Queensland in Melbourne, on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.
Ellis is still recovering from the injury that kept him out of Australia for the limited overs in the UK, while Meredith returned to Australia this week and will be assessed for the first game of the tour. against Scotland. Ellis missed Australia’s next four T20Is due to discomfort before returning home, and his recovery time is yet to be determined.
