Richardson out, Tye joins Australia ODI squad against India

SYDNEY (AP) — Pace bowler Andrew Tye has been drafted into Australia’s squad to replace Kane Richardson for the series of one-day and Twenty20 internationals against India starting next week.

Cricket Australia on Wednesday said Richardson withdrew from the squad to be with his wife and their newborn son in Adelaide.

“It was a difficult decision for Kane to make, but one which has the complete support of the selectors and the entire playing squad,” national selector Trevor Hohns said. "We will miss what he brings to the team but completely understand his decision.”

Josh Hazlewood, one of Australia's senior bowlers in the test and ODI formats, told an online video conference Wednesday that Richardson had to make a choice that was best for his family.

He's got “a very young family and a newborn at home, which is obviously more important than cricket,” Hazlewood said. “We support him in his decision, for sure.”

The 33-year-old Tye has played 7 ODIs and 26 T20 internationals and was a backup paceman on Australia's recent tour to England, which finished with an ODI series win over the World Cup winners.

Meanwhile, a new outbreak of COVID-19 infections in South Australia state resulted in players from some domestic teams flying into New South Wales state to avoid any potential new border closures.

The new cases in South Australia are up to 22 from a cluster in northern Adelaide, and health officials have also identified 14 others who are considered at high risk of having the virus. Later Wednesday, the South Australian government imposed a six-day, stay-at-home lockdown in an effort to contain the new outbreak.

After the limited-overs series, Australia and India will meet in four test matches starting with a day-nighter scheduled to begin at the Adelaide Oval on Dec. 17. Cricket Australia said it would continue to monitor the situation in Adelaide but that it remains committed to holding the first test there.

As a precaution, it said players and staff from Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland states who are part of the ODI squad were traveling to Sydney to begin their preparations for both series. The first ODI is Nov. 27 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“CA has taken a proactive approach and mobilized a number of people across the country over the past 24 hours to shore up our men’s domestic and international schedules, Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia’s interim chief executive, said. “CA will continue to monitor the situation in South Australia and the resulting border restrictions around the country.”

Hazlewood, who is in quarantine in Sydney after returning from Australia's ODI tour to England and then the Indian Premier League, said the Gabba in Brisbane or the Melbourne Cricket Ground could be good alternatives if the first test has to be moved from Adelaide.

“We’ve obviously played all the grounds before, in all different orders. I don’t think it would have any impact,” he said. “It’s pretty uncertain times. We’re adapting quickly to what’s being thrown at us. All the guys are coping with it.”

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