Saturday’s BBL Player of the Final Jhye Richardson says the past week has seen his “dreams come true” after his maiden Australia call-up.
Richardson went from potentially being dropped from the Perth Scorchers XI for the BBL Final, to producing a best afield performance with three wickets and a run out.
Only two days later, he received a phone call from chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns who informed him he’d been called up for the upcoming T20 series against Sri Lanka.
“There’s some moments where I’m like ‘it’s sweet, it’s cool’,” Richardson said.
“Then other moments, I’m speechless and I’m standing there going ‘this is actually happening, this is reality, this is dreams coming true’.
“It’s been a bit up and down but loved every minute of it.”
Richardson admitted he was speechless after receiving the news but said he had a glimmer of hope of a call-up.
“I probably had a slight bit of hope rather than expectation in the back of my mind,” he said.
“It was hope that someone saw what I did during the Big Bash. Here it is, I got the phone call and I’m in the squad.”
Richardson’s efforts in the BBL Final certainly boosted his cause.
“I think it definitely helps,” he said.
“Being able to step up in such a pressure situation has something to do with it.”
Richardson was also full of praise for team-mates Michael Klinger, Andrew Tye and Ashton Turner who also received call-ups.
“Maxy Klinger deserves it more than anyone,” he said.
“AT is such a dangerous player and we saw with a couple of his innings.
“AJ as well, we’ve seen what he’s done throughout the Big Bash, he’s been our most economical bowler.”