Jhye Richardson Injury Comeback: Test Squad Return in 2025

Few stories in Australian cricket right now match the mix of promise and frustration that follows fast bowler Jhye Richardson. A shoulder that keeps breaking down, a bowling action that keeps thrilling crowds, and a Test squad door that keeps cracking open — Richardson’s career has become a test of resilience as much as talent.

Age: 28 (born 20 September 1996) ·
Bowling speed: Consistently 140 kph (87 mph) ·
Teams: Australia, Perth Scorchers, Western Australia ·
Injury status: Returning from shoulder surgery (2022) ·
BBL debut: 2016

Six facts from his profile, one pattern: a fast bowler who has spent as much time in the physio room as in the middle.

What this means: Richardson has the raw attributes of a Test-standard pace bowler, but his body has been the limiting factor.

What happened to Jhye Richardson?

Richardson’s career has been repeatedly interrupted by shoulder problems. The most significant setback came in 2022 when a major shoulder injury required surgery, forcing him to miss the entire 2023 season. He returned to cricket in the Big Bash League (BBL) during the 2023/24 season for the Perth Scorchers, playing a handful of matches. By December 2024, his rehabilitation had progressed enough for Australia’s selectors to add him to the Test squad for the Boxing Day Test against India. He did not play a Test match that summer, but in late 2025 he trained with Australia’s Ashes squad ahead of the third Test in Adelaide. In November 2025, he was named in the Cricket Australia XI squad to face England Lions at Lilac Hill, Perth.

Shoulder injury and surgery

The shoulder problem that derailed his career wasn’t a single moment but a cumulative issue that first surfaced in 2019 during a tour of England. By 2022, the injury had progressed to the point that surgery was unavoidable. Richardson himself described the surgery decision as one reached after careful consideration and discussions with his medical team.

Rehabilitation and timeline

• 2022: Surgery and the start of a lengthy rehab process.
• 2023: Missed the entire season, including Sheffield Shield and BBL.
• 2024: Returned in the BBL for Perth Scorchers and played in a Sheffield Shield match.

Return to domestic cricket

By October 2025, Richardson was bowling off his full run and told Honeyball he was waiting for his ball speed to return. He sent down 18 overs across two club games for Fremantle before being selected for the Cricket Australia XI match against England Lions. Selectors are expected to place him on restricted loads during that four-day fixture to manage his return.

The pattern: Richardson is being drip-fed into competitive cricket, each appearance a checkpoint. For a bowler whose whippy action relies on extreme shoulder mobility, every over is a test.

Test squad prospects

Richardson’s return to the Test conversation comes at a time when Australia’s pace attack is under strain. Josh Hazlewood was sidelined with a right calf injury and Mitchell Starc was managing a back issue ahead of the Sydney Test (SCG) against India. Richardson was called up as cover, though he did not play. A fourth-Test recall would come nearly four years after his last Test appearance. Richardson admitted to ABC that he was not back to his best yet and still had more steps to take before bowling consistently.

Are Kane and Jhye Richardson related?

Despite sharing the same surname and profession, Kane Richardson and Jhye Richardson are not related. Cricket.com.au refers to them as “namesakes” and has noted the coincidence in an article titled “Kane able to feel namesake’s pain,” published in reference to the similar shoulder injuries both have endured. Both are right-arm fast bowlers from Western Australia, but they come from different families and have no known familial connection.

Same surname, different families

The confusion is understandable — both men were born in Western Australia, played for the Perth Scorchers at different times, and have called each other “namesakes” in interviews. But there is no verified family link.

No relation confirmed

Neither player has ever claimed a family connection. The question comes up often enough that it has become a standard entry in biographies, but the answer is straightforward: two unrelated fast bowlers who share a name.

The implication: confusion is natural, but the facts are clear.

How old is Jhye Richardson?

Jhye Richardson was born on 20 September 1996 in Murdoch, Western Australia (Wikipedia). As of 2025, he is 28 years old. He attended Christ Church Grammar School in Perth, a well-regarded private school with a strong cricket program.

Date of birth

• Born: 20 September 1996
• Birthplace: Murdoch, Western Australia
• Current age: 28

Current age

At 28, he is in the typical prime years for a fast bowler. The question is whether his body can withstand the demands of Test-match pace over consecutive seasons.

The catch: age is on his side, but injury history isn’t.

Is Jhye Richardson a good bowler?

Yes — but the answer comes with a health warning. Richardson is a right-arm fast bowler with a distinctive “whippy” action that generates sharp bounce and late swing. He has played for Australia in all three formats and shown enough to be considered a promising talent. The caveat: he has struggled to stay on the field.

Bowling style and speed

Richardson bowls around 140 kph (87 mph) consistently and has been measured up to 145 kph in domestic matches (ESPNcricinfo). His action relies heavily on shoulder whip, which gives him extra pace but also makes him vulnerable to shoulder breakdowns.

International performances

• Test: Debut vs New Zealand in December 2017; best bowling 3/26.
• ODI: Best figures 4/26; played in the 2021 T20 World Cup squad.
• First-class: Has scored a maiden first-class century.

Critics and praise

Analysts consistently praise his speed and swing, but the “injury-prone” label has followed him throughout his career. Critics note that potential alone doesn’t win Test matches — availability does.

What this means: talent is not in question, but the body’s reliability is.

What is Jhye Richardson’s bowling speed?

Richardson’s typical speed range is 135–145 kph (84–90 mph), with most of his spells sitting around 140 kph. He is regarded as a genuine fast bowler, though not in the express category of someone like Pat Cummins or Mitchell Starc.

Typical speed range

• Average: 140 kph (87 mph)
• Peak: 145 kph in domestic cricket
• Comparison: slower than Starc but often more accurate with swing

Fastest recorded deliveries

His fastest recorded delivery in an international match is around 145.1 kph, bowled during a BBL game for the Perth Scorchers in 2019. Post-injury, his speed is reported to be slightly lower, hovering in the low 140s, as noted by Honeyball.

Why this matters: Speed is the headline, but the real editorial is whether Richardson can sustain it over a 20-over spell in a Test match. That answer is still being written.

Timeline: Jhye Richardson’s career milestones

• 1996: Born on 20 September in Murdoch, Western Australia (Wikipedia)
• 2016: BBL debut for Perth Scorchers (ESPNcricinfo)
• 2017: Test debut vs New Zealand in December (ABC News)
• 2019: First shoulder injury during a tour of England (Fox Sports Australia)
• 2021: Selected for T20 World Cup, played in BBL (Wisden)
• 2022: Major shoulder injury requiring surgery (Wisden)
• 2023: Missed entire season due to rehabilitation (Fox Sports Australia)
• 2024: Returned to cricket in BBL and Shield (ESPNcricinfo)
• 2025: Added to Test squad; named in CA XI to face England Lions (ESPNcricinfo)

The arc: nine milestones, one theme — a talent constantly interrupted by injury.

Clarity: What’s known and what isn’t

Bottom line: confirmed facts outnumber open questions, but the open questions are the ones that matter for selection.

Quotes on Jhye Richardson’s comeback

“Kane able to feel namesake’s pain” — referring to the parallel shoulder injuries both bowlers have experienced.

— cricket.com.au

“I’m not entirely back to my best yet; I still have more steps to take before I can bowl consistently.”

— Jhye Richardson to ABC News

“Richardson ties knot, targets World Cup” — personal milestone and career ambition intertwined, per cricket.com.au.

— cricket.com.au

The voices: from namesakes to the player himself, each quote reinforces the same idea — patience and persistence.

Summary

Jhye Richardson is a genuine fast-bowling talent whose career has been defined by a recurring shoulder injury. The 2025 story is one of cautious optimism — he is bowling again, selectors are watching, and the Ashes window is open. For the Australia national cricket team, the choice is clear: manage his workload carefully and integrate him into the Test attack, or risk losing a rare skill to another breakdown. For Perth Scorchers and Western Australia, the same patience is required. Richardson’s return depends on proving that the ICC rankings don’t matter if the body doesn’t hold up.

Fans following his comeback can explore Jhye Richardsons career journey for a detailed account of his career and injury history.

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