Jhye Richardson out of ODI tour of India, unlikely for IPL

Jhye Richardson has been ruled out of Australia's ODI tour of India, and his IPL stint with Mumbai Indians is also unlikely, after he suffered a hamstring injury recurrence in his first grade game back since the initial injury occurred during the BBL.

Richardson had not played any cricket since straining his hamstring on January 4. The injury was initially diagnosed as minor, and it was hoped he would return for the BBL finals, but it took him two full months to return to play. He missed Perth Scorchers' BBL title run and has not played any Marsh Cup or Sheffield Shield cricket since. But he was selected in Australia's 16-man ODI squad for the three-match series in India that starts on March 17 in Mumbai.

Nathan Ellis, who has played three ODIs, has been called up as Richardson's replacement.

Richardson made his return to competitive cricket on Saturday in Perth playing for his club side Fremantle against Wanneroo in a 50-over fixture, where it was hoped he would make his domestic return in the Marsh Cup final before departing for India.

However, he managed only four overs for Fremantle, where he did take 3 for 5, before leaving the field and heading for a scan. He later went to the WACA ground to consult with the WA medical staff.

Richardson has had a rotten run with soft-tissue injuries over the past two seasons independent of the major shoulder injury he suffered in 2019. He took a maiden Test five-wicket haul against England in Adelaide in December 2021, his first Test since injuring his right shoulder, but a nagging heel injury ruled him out of the next Test and he has not played Test cricket since.

He played in the T20I and ODI series on the tour of Sri Lanka in June of 2022 but then had an interrupted pre-season for WA ahead of the domestic summer starting in October with a number of soft tissue concerns limiting him to just two Sheffield Shield games and one Marsh Cup game prior to the BBL.