Because put simply, "I don't think I could do what" Mitchell Starc does for Australia in the Twenty20 format.

Richardson thinks Pat Cummins might be more his style as they prepare to link up for Australia against world No. 1 Pakistan at Manuka Oval on Tuesday night.

Experimentation has been shelved in favour of continuity as Australian selectors play the long game with an eye on next year's Twenty20 World Cup.

It means Richardson is in the box seat for a place in the XI alongside Cummins, Starc and a pair of spinners.

But he says to look too far ahead would be doing the likes of Billy Stanlake, Sean Abbott and injured quick AJ Tye a major disservice.

"We always talk to each other during the game about what's working. I'd be foolish to ask Starcy what he does well because I don't think I could do what Starcy does," Richardson said.

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"I think Cummo is the one, we're similar kinds of bowlers in terms of the length we bowl and what we're trying to execute.

"Again, he's a class above. It's nice to see what they're thinking and try to emulate that where I can.

"I know a lot can change in a year, I learnt that in the 50-over World Cup just gone, getting called up two days before the team left.

"For me, it's just about trying to perform every single time I get an opportunity. I feel like I'm almost playing for a job going forward because there are so many good bowlers around.

"I would never look too far ahead. It's knowing your role. In Twenty20 cricket as a bowler, that's so important.

"There are roles allocated in Twenty20 cricket, and everyone in the bowling group knows their role.

"It just makes it easier and [captain Aaron Finch] has been really good on the field to keep communicating throughout the game.

"At the moment we're taking wickets early, and that's taking the pressure off us."

That, and the sparkling form shown by the men at the top of the order.

David Warner is yet to be dismissed in a Twenty20 international this summer having posted scores of 100, 60 and 57 in three matches against Sri Lanka.

Only rain could stop him in his tracks against Pakistan - and even that couldn't dislodge him.

"He's a super player, he had a quiet night [on Sunday] because he only faced four balls," Richardson said.

"The confidence [Warner and Finch] have at the start of the innings gets us off to a good start, then we have Mr Fix It at three if something goes wrong in [Steve Smith].

"The bowling group has confidence, the batting group does as well. Some of the guys in the middle order are just desperate for a hit."

Whether they can get one in Canberra remains to be seen - this is a deck long regarded as a batsman's paradise.

Perhaps those roles Richardson says the bowling line-up has grown familiar with have rarely been more important, because what he expects suggests straying too far from them would cause Australia to self-destruct.

"Runs, lots of runs," Richardson said when asked what he is bracing for.

"From past experience, it's always going to be flat and it doesn't really do a whole lot. I'll back us in to get the win."

TWENTY20 INTERNATIONAL: Game two - Australia v Pakistan at Manuka Oval, 7.10pm. Tickets from Ticketek.

Click here for your guide to Canberra's summer of cricket.