Australia's selectors are adopting a long-term strategy for pace bowlers Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson to help them overcome their injury woes.
Lance Morris, the Western Australia fast bowler who debuted in ODIs last season against the West Indies and was part of the Test squad, is currently rehabbing from another back stress injury. This injury has kept him sidelined during the winter, echoing a similar issue after the 2022-23 season, which caused him to miss the Ashes tour. Morris had previously suffered a side strain during his second ODI appearance, cutting his summer short. He was set to play for the Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket, but post-season scans revealed a hot spot in his back, ruling him out of the Scotland and England tour.
National selector George Bailey mentioned that Morris is making good progress in his recovery and is eager to return to cricket. Bailey stated, "Lance is still working through his return to play and recovering from the back stress fracture. He’s feeling good and nearing the point where he wants to play again. We believe he will have a lot of cricket ahead of him this summer, which is very exciting."
Bailey pointed out that the aim is to ensure Morris is set up for long-term success, rather than rushing his return and risking further injury. "We want to set him up for success in the long term rather than pushing too early and risking potential issues. We think he has a very exciting future ahead."
Jhye Richardson, described by Bailey as "fit and firing," managed one appearance for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024 after a disrupted domestic season due to a side strain during the BBL. He last played for Australia against Sri Lanka in mid-2022. Both Morris and Richardson received Cricket Australia central contracts earlier this year.
Bailey said Richardson is in a similar situation to Morris, being fit and looking for match opportunities. He expects Richardson to get chances throughout the summer. "For both Jhye and Morris, it's about getting through the season fit and maximizing their cricket opportunities. This will include domestic matches, potential international opportunities, and Australia A games, setting them up for long-term success."
Australia's primary pace trio—Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins—have remained largely unchanged in the Test side, with Scott Boland filling in when needed. They have also been regulars in recent ODI and T20 World Cups, though they have been rotated more frequently outside of major events.
Cummins will miss the entire UK tour to focus on conditioning for the home summer. Starc will skip the T20Is but return for the ODIs, while Hazlewood is included in both squads. Emerging fast bowlers Xavier Bartlett and Spencer Johnson join the T20I squad alongside Nathan Ellis, who is expected to get more opportunities. Sean Abbott, who played one game at the ODI World Cup, is part of the 50-over squad with Ellis, Hazlewood, and Starc. The selectors are mindful of managing workloads, especially with the five-Test series against India later this year.
Bailey remarked on the depth of Australia’s fast bowling group, noting that the senior bowlers' success has limited opportunities for others. "We've got an exciting group of fast bowlers who haven’t had many chances across formats due to the success and robustness of our senior bowlers."
He added that decisions for the UK series were made with an eye on preparing players for the upcoming summer. "Some decisions were made to prioritise getting players ready for a big summer, giving them the necessary work to prepare."
Victoria and Melbourne Renegades all-rounder Will Sutherland was also not considered for the latest squads due to a back stress fracture suffered late last season. He made his ODI debut against the West Indies in February.