Andrew Tye has backed in-form quick Jhye Richardson to get the nod for the first Ashes Test against England in Brisbane.
The 25-year-old was named in Australia’s squad for the first two Ashes Tests and is in the mix to play in the series opener starting on December 8.
Richardson has taken 23 wickets in four Sheffield Shield games for Western Australia and enjoys playing at the Gabba, taking eight wickets for the match in a recent game against Queensland.
The West Aussie took five wickets over two innings on Test debut at the Gabba against Sri Lanka in January 2019.
“I said last week that Jhye’s name is already on the team sheet,” Tye told SEN WA.
“With the way that he’s been bowling and his form coming in … it’s going to be really stiff to leave him out.
“I reckon he’s in.”
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Shane Warne has called for Richardson’s inclusion for the Gabba Test at the expense of Mitchell Starc.
Starc took 11 wickets at an average of 40 in last summer’s Test series against India and conceded 60 runs off four overs in Australia’s T20 World Cup final win over New Zealand.
“He (Starc) needs to find a bit of rhythm and some form,” Warne said.
“He had a really poor World Cup. He’s just not bowling well enough.
“It’s too important at the Gabba. I’m all for Jhye Richardson (replacing Starc).”
Richardson last appeared for Australia at Test level in February 2019.
Shoulder injuries have restricted the paceman to just 18 first-class games in five years.