Jhye Richardson sidelined after another shoulder dislocation

Luckless Western Australia fast bowler Jhye Richardson has suffered another injury blow after he dislocated his shoulder while fielding in a second XI match for WA against South Australia in Adelaide last week.

Richardson was preparing to make his Sheffield Shield return for WA this week, also against South Australia at Adelaide Oval, after making a successful comeback from hamstring surgery in the Marsh Cup earlier this month.

Richardson made 85 for WA's second XI at Park 25 in Adelaide last week and bowled eight overs in the first innings including three maidens. But it is understood he dislocated his shoulder while diving in the field and he did not bat or bowl again in the match although it is hoped the injury will only set him back a few weeks, with surgery not required.

"Scans on Jhye Richardson's right shoulder which was dislocated in the second XI match last Tuesday have cleared him from any major structural damage," WA confirmed in a statement. "As a nationally contracted player, WA Cricket is working with Cricket Australia to determine his return to play."

Richardson first dislocated his right shoulder while diving in the field during an ODI for Australia in March 2019 against Pakistan in Sharjah which ruled him out of the 2019 World Cup and the Ashes. He eventually had surgery on the shoulder after further dislocations.

He fought his way back to international cricket taking a maiden Test five-wicket haul against England in December 2021. But a series of soft tissue injuries have plagued him since then including suffering a serious hamstring injury in the BBL last summer that required surgery and required a long rehabilitation over the winter.

His return to both the Marsh Cup and Sheffield Shield was being carefully mapped out by WA. He was set to replace Lance Morris in the Shield squad this week as Morris is also being carefully managed ahead of Australia's Test summer where he may be in line to make his Test debut depending on how Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins recover after a long World Cup campaign.