Jhye Richardson on Rehab, Rohit and Rituals

You have had a recent shoulder injury from a fielding mishap in Dubai. What's the rehabilitation been like and how is it coming along?

Shoulder is coming along really well now. I think the public misconception throughout the whole injury has been that my shoulder is going to still cause me problems and be a major issue moving forward. Throughout the world cup, and moving forward to the ashes, my shoulder has been progressing really well and we are yet to take a major step back. I think the fact that we were working against such tight time-frames made it seem a lot worse than it was. 

Your frame probably isn't built in the traditional mould of most fast bowlers. Where does your speed come from?

It all comes from rhythm for me. Often I try and run in as fast as I can, or push through the crease as hard as I can and the reality is that the ball comes out at the same speed compared to when I am running in relaxed, balanced and trying to flow through the crease as best I can. I get asked this question a lot and it has a lot to do with being explosive and having fast twitch muscle fibres as well as a locked front leg at the crease.

Your fastest recorded bowling speed?

My fastest ball has been in the Big Bash League clocked at 149kph.

We've noticed writing on some of the toes of some of your adidas cricket shoes. What do write on them and what's the story behind this?

I've written "stand tall" or "KISS" on my shoes before. Stand tall is just a simple cue for me to remember be tall through the crease, and not feeling like I'm trying to bowl too fast. KISS stands for Keep it simple stupid. Cricket is such a mental game, and your thoughts and emotions can often get the better of you. This leads you to try way too many things and usually bowl well below of what you are capable of. It allows me to remember that simplicity is key.

Which batsman do you find the most challenging to bowl to and why?

I often find batsmen similar to Rohit Sharma difficult to bowl to because it could be the first over of the game and he will block you and see you off until the next over, and you feel like the next over you're still in the game and then all of a sudden you've gone for 15. It's like batsmen similar to this can just flick a switch and become really unpredictable. They're the ones you have to be really careful of.

You have had a fairly metaphoric rise within cricket the past year. What's your favourite experience to date?

My favourite experience has definitely been my Test debut. It was a pure sense of excitement, fear and pride all at the same time. A very close second to this would definitely be beating India, in India. That doesn't happen very often and to be a part of the team to do that was really special. I've been to India a few times and I don't think I've ever heard a cricket stadium so silent after the last ball was bowled.

Favourite country to tour?

Favourite country definitely would have to be South Africa or England.

So far you seem to have had the better of your battles with Virat Kohli. How do you go about bowling to the world's #1 batsman and is there anything in particular that you attribute to your success against him?

Virat Kohli is an unbelievable batsman, I think I was just lucky to be bowling at those particular times in the game to get him out. Obviously we have plans to get him out but they don't always work. I thrived off the challenge. I knew it was always going to be a tough ask to bowl someone like him, but it got me fired up and I reckon he got fired up and wanted to get into the contest as well.

How do you like to spend your time away from cricket when you are on a break?

I love music and video games. I find it relaxing to lose a couple of hours in trying to finish or beat a game, whilst still having that competitive edge when versing mates online.

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS:

Favourite pre game snack? Usually a toastie from the WACA salad bar!

Best pump up song? Anything that is super loud!

If you weren't playing cricket, what would you be doing? Probably something that is outdoors.

Do you have any pets? My golden retriever, Nala.

Coffee or tea? Coffee.

Favourite sport outside of cricket? AFL.

What do you do to relax?  Video games.

Your best match figures? 8/47.

Most exciting game you have played in? Winning in the last over batting with Pat Cummins verses India in a T20.

Poster on your wall as a kid was? The test team of the Century.

Person you most want to bowl out? AB Devilliers.

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