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Diminutive Aussie quick eyes ODI debut

West Australian paceman Jhye Richardson is in line to make his ODI debut against England at the MCG on Sunday.

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Source: AAP


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Australia's newest pace sensation stands at just 178cm but don't let that fool you - he's capable of some serious speed.

Uncapped 21-year-old Jhye Richardson is a strong chance to debut in Sunday's opening one-day clash with England at the MCG, with Josh Hazlewood set to be rested.

Pat Cummins will sit out the second ODI in Brisbane and Mitchell Starc is certain to be rested at some point.

While fellow West Australian paceman Andrew Tye is also in the 14-man squad, Richardson has a golden opportunity to make a name for himself during the five-game series.

The right-arm quick made a solid national debut last summer when he played in two T20s against Sri Lanka, although he was unable to consolidate his spot in the side.

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But he has continued to stake his claim as an impact bowler, hitting a top speed of 149km/h in the BBL last year, despite giving up 20cm on the big three who dominated the Ashes series.

"From an early age, there was a lot of talk about how tall I was going to be but I didn't really think about it too much," Richardson said.

"Someone like Dale Steyn, he's proved to everyone that you don't have to be tall and you don't have to be a solid bloke to be able to run in and bowl fast and bowl well.

"I don't think it means you'll be better or worse, it just means you'll be different."

Richardson hadn't spent any time with Steve Smith before arriving in Melbourne on Wednesday ahead of the Test players.

But he would at least be on the Australian skipper's radar after a memorable Sheffield Shield meeting at Sydney's Hurstville Oval ahead of the first Ashes Test.

The plucky youngster ramped up his pace and sent down a barrage of short-pitched deliveries, not that it stopped Smith from posting scores of 76 and 127 for NSW.

Richardson is unsure whether his light frame will help his durability but he has already exceeded expectations this season, playing four out of WA's five Shield games so far.

"Being 178cm and 73 or 74kg, there's not much to work with," he said.

"But I think just the mechanics of bowling - having a locked front leg and fast-twitch fibres - just helps. Being able to be quite whippy, that's what I get (described) as fairly often as being a whippy bowler."


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