Jarryd Richardson poised to take over the gloves at St George’s
With St George’s cricket chairman Wendell Smith having indicated there are likely to be multiple changes to the challengers’ line-up for Cup Match, Jarryd Richardson hopes to force his way into the team.
While the Bailey’s Bay and Bermuda wicketkeeper-batter may not be in the same class with the gloves as incumbent Sinclair Smith, who is struggling for fitness with a hamstring injury, Richardson has demonstrated vastly superior form with the bat this season.
In the five Premier Division 50 overs matches that Richardson has played for his club since returning to the island from school overseas, he has averaged almost 70, the highlight being 138 not out against Somerset, his maiden century at senior level.
Richardson has also shown well in two trial matches against Cleveland and St David’s, his 58 against the former followed up with a composed 42 against the latter.
“I’ve put in some good performances in recent weeks,” said the 21-year-old, who majors in sports rehabilitation at Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales.
“I’m in good nick and good form going into the Cup Match holiday. “It’s going to be tough with Sinny [Sinclair Smith] as my competition as a wicketkeeper-batsman, but we’ll see what happens in the final trial.”
Perhaps it is an omen favouring the younger man is that on senior international duty he replaced Smith, who is 11 years his elder and again a fitness concern, two matches into the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League Play-off in Malaysia in February.
Richardson credited his form to the coaching he received while on that tour and playing on notoriously turning wickets on the Indian sub-continent.
“Going with the national team to India was a big help to my batting,” he said. “I benefited being able to work with the coaches over there and learning more how to play spin and adding some things to my technique when facing faster bowling.
“I’m watching the ball more these days and I really can’t complain about where I’m at at the moment.”
Even as continued representation of country stands first and foremost among his cricketing agenda, thoughts of Cup Match are never far away, with Richardson aiming to produce another impressive display at the St George’s final trial on Saturday.
“Cup Match is just underneath playing for my country,” he said, a wry smile peeking through.
“Being from St George’s, it would be nice to represent my community. I just want to earn the opportunity to put my talents on show for the whole of my country.”
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