Jhye justifies JL's meditative judgement

Perth Scorchers quick Jhye Richardson wasn't even a certain starter in the KFC Big Bash League final until 6.50am on the morning of the match.

Now, he's a Big Bash Final player of the match and he has coach Justin Langer's daily meditation session to thank.

Recap: Scorchers win Big Bash final

Langer spent a restless night on Friday tossing up between the 20-year-old right-armer and experienced left-armer Jason Behrendorff, who was a chance to make a shock return from injury against the Sydney Sixers at the WACA Ground despite not having played a competitive match since late November.

Richardson got the nod and it paid off richly for the Scorchers as he claimed 3-30, taking the key wickets of Moises Henriques, Brad Haddin and Jordan Silk, while his outstanding work in the field resulted in the run out of Nic Maddinson when he was on one.

"It was just such a dilemma, I reckon I asked at least 50 people their opinion about whether we should go Jason Behrendorff or Jhye Richardson," Langer said after the Scorchers' emphatic nine-run victory over the Sixers.

"It's hard to leave someone like Behrendorff out, he's been our most influential bowler of the last three or four years.

"But it came really clearly to me this morning when I was meditating.

"If we were talking about being fit to play and to perform, then as good as Behrendorff is, I just left he hadn't played enough cricket.

"Richardson was battle hard and his fielding – if he didn't take one wicket today, that run out of Maddinson earned every cent of his wage tonight."

Needless to say, Richardson was ecstatic to receive the call from Langer that delivered the happy news on Saturday morning.

"He was pumped. I had to make two tough phone calls, but I wussed out and called Jhye first," the coach said.

"He was so excited."

It also goes without saying that the former Australia Under-19 representative was even more ecstatic after the final.

"It's unbelievable. At the start of the season I couldn't have even dreamed of it," Richardson said.

"I'm speechless."

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Richardson played eight matches for the Scorchers in BBL|06, taking 11 wickets at 20-18.

It's an outcome he never imagined, but an output that was crucial in the success of a Scorchers outfit missing pacemen Nathan Coulter-Nile, Joel Paris and Behrendorff.

"I was probably a bit lucky with injuries throughout the squad (to play as many games) but I had to trust myself and hard work I've done and it paid off," Richardson said.

And while he picked up three wickets in Saturday's final, it was the run out of Maddinson that pleased him most of all.

"I love fielding the most out of the three disciplines and I pride myself on my fielding."