Richardson returning home ahead of final ODI

WELLINGTON: Australia pace bowler Kane Richardson is to return home for further examination on a back injury and has been replaced by Joel Paris in the squad for their final One-day International (ODI) match against New Zealand in Hamilton on Monday (today).

Richardson, 24, did not play in Australia’s four-wicket victory in the second match in Wellington on Saturday.

“Kane Richardson’s back pain hasn’t subsided sufficiently to take part in the final ODI in Hamilton,” a Cricket Australia (CA) spokesperson told Australian reporters in Wellington on Sunday.

“He will return home today for further investigation into the issue and Joel Paris will join the squad in Auckland this afternoon as cover.”

Paris has just finished playing a Sheffield Shield match for Western Australia against New South Wales in New Zealand.

Richardson joins a long list of injured Australian pace bowlers with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins both long-term injury concerns.

Nathan Coulter-Nile is also sidelined, though James Pattinson, who has been complaining of shin soreness, has joined up with the test squad in New Zealand.