Published: Sep 15, 2016, 06:07 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 15, 2016, 06:07 PM (IST)
Last time Jackson Bird played Test cricket for Australia, he picked up five wickets in an innings against New Zealand at Christchurch in February this year. Injuries have kept him in and out of the Australian team, but with South Africa touring Australia for a Test series in about 50 days time, Bird’s immediate goal is to make it back to the Test team and wants to be a part of the Australian team, which plays South Africa in the first Test at Perth. Bird was part of the Australian Test side, which toured Sri Lanka. With Australia playing three spinners in all Tests, Bird did not get a chance to play in any of the matches. Full Cricket Scorecard: Australia vs South Africa 1st Test at Perth
“I suppose there are some injuries around at the moment and I guess there is some doubt who is going to be the third seamer so it’s a good opportunity for anyone playing these games to put their name forward. I feel if selected [for South Africa Test series] I’m in a pretty good position. I feel like the ball is coming out nicely but there is a lot of cricket until then,” according to cricbuzz.com. READ: Johnson: Starc really committed to working hard
Bird also talks about the help and guidance the likes of Ryan Harris and Allan Donald have given him. Talking about Harris, Bird said, “Ryan has a lot of experience in first class and international cricket and has slotted really well to the role of being a bowling coach. He’s been through most things that bowlers are going to go through in their careers such as injury setbacks and playing in all types of conditions.” READ: Rogers wants Marsh as Warner’s partner in Tests for AUS
Donald was Australia’s bowling coach during the Sri Lanka tour. Bird feels that Donald’s lessons on reverse swing is going to help him during First-Class games in Australia. “Playing in Australia, reverse swing is a pretty good weapon to have. I think in First-Class cricket we play on a lot of out grounds where the wickets can be flat so it’s good to have that weapon of going reverse. His [Donald] experience of playing Test cricket in Sri Lanka was good to bounce ideas off and he wanted us to be intense going through the crease. He was really good to work with.”
