Richardson, released by Derbyshire at the end of 1995, pocketed 39 championship wickets in his debut season with his native county last year, and has further advanced his claims for representative honours with some impressive displays in the Minor Counties Under- 25s side.
Giles Ecclestone, the Cambridgeshire left-hander, is preferred to Wayne Larkins, the former England Test opener.
Minor Counties (v Australians, July 8): S J Dean (Staffs), G W Ecclestone (Cambs), M A Fell (Lincs), S D Myles (Berks), I Cockbain (Cheshire, capt), R N Dalton (Beds), M I Humphries (Staffs), J M Fielding (Cumberland), A Richardson (Staffs), M A Sharp (Cumberland), S Oakes (Lincs).