After a long break of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, Kane Richardson isn’t petrified to start his bowling pace at the limited-overs series against England and IPL. He is self-assured to hit back the stump and accumulate wickets in both of the tournaments. The break has rebooted his secret-weapon, propelling a well-directed yorker at the best version.
In March, he couldn’t join the Australia squad in the Gillette ODI Series opener against the Black Caps in Sydney. He was kept in a strict quarantine measure in a hotel following his international travel (South Africa with Australia’s ODI squad). As per the Australian government protocols, Aussie players were kept far away from Richardson, and soon, he was tested for COVID-19. Thankfully, he didn’t contract COVID-19 and was subsequently released from the 14-days quarantine measures.
Fast bowler, Richardson believes that Aussie cricketers have returned strong and solid following the forced break due to the global pandemic. Fortunately, the players have undergone pre-season training, which has strengthened them before picking up the pace for large events.
“The break from playing has been refreshing, to be honest. We have come back strong and are well into pre-season training with our states. As a bowler, our loads are not at their peak but we are working towards getting ready for a tour of the UK in a few weeks. We will have some time in the UK before the matches start. We have done a lot of work in pre-season, we will be ready,”
He is calm and composed even though England has already ventured its journey to a three-match ODI series against Ireland.
“Everybody is in the same situation globally. England has had longer together but we will be fresh and ready to go.”
At the same time, he is electrified to represent Royal Challengers Bangalore for IPL 2020 in the United Arab Emirates. Richardson cites IPL is the greatest opportunity to mingle alongside exceptional players in the world. In 2016, he couldn’t set the best records with only four matches on his hand. This time, RCB promises stirring up his experience to IPL under the captainship of Virat Kohli.
“I can’t wait to get back to the IPL and the Challengers, especially with the caliber of players we have this year. The IPL is a great opportunity for us to play with and against the very best in the world and a great warmup for the home summer,”
Richardson sees no difference between the skippers Aaron Finch and Virat Kohli. Both of them have an equal thirst to get the trophy for the team.
“They are both (Kohli and Finch) incredibly driven captains and inspirational players. It is going to be an amazing experience as you say. Hopefully, our batters make the bowlers lives easy,”
His wife, Nyki Kitching, whom Richardson tied the knot in the Adelaide Hills knows he savors most of his golden memories in Darwin in the Northern Territory. However, he is originally from Southern Australia. The couple is similar in many ways, including their vegan philosophies. Once, he put forward his disgraceful thoughts on the cricket ball, which was made out of leather, an animal product.
“The cricket ball is made out of leather but that is out of our control, you make do with it,”
Peeps made fun out of Richardson if he was slowing his bowling pace due to heavy chest and sideburns inflicted by dropping a non-veg diet. But they didn’t know, and he continued bowling despite his back injury. In the end, fast bowler, Richardson filled in the gap of his side effects as well as injuries with a plant-based diet suggested by the team doctor and nutritionist.
