BIRD BACK IN FAVOUR
Tassie quick joins the big three with week off before first Test
TASMANIAN Jackson Bird appears to have beaten the challengers for a place in Australia’s first Test squad as the fast bowling brigade was put on ice for Brisbane.
Bird, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will be rested from next week’s Sheffield Shield round and sent to Brisbane, where they will train as a unit at the National Cricket Centre before the November 23 Ashes opener.
Starc and Cummins were always likely to be spared from the NSW-Queensland match at Allan Border Field, but Hazlewood has joined them after bowling splendidly against Western Australia over the weekend.
Though Starc snared two hat-tricks, Hazlewood’s work was as impressive and he feels right to go for the first Test.
Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood are certain to be Australia’s first Test attack.
In time and without injury disruption, they may be regarded as one of the finest trios assembled by Australia.
Hazlewood will go into the Ashes series with only one Shield game under his belt since suffering a side strain on the Bangladesh tour. He played for NSW against WA last weekend, and impressed while taking 3-24 and 3-49.
Bird appears set to be 12th man and that position could be reviewed for the second Test in Adelaide where swingman Chadd Sayers could come into consideration in the pinkball Test on his home ground.
The resting of Australia’s firstchoice pace trio from the Sheffield Shield match could be good news for Australian batsmen Matt Renshaw and Usman Khawaja, as they ready themselves for the Gabba. Both are in need of a long stay at the crease.
With Bird rested and Andrew Fekete unavailable through injury, star allrounder James Faulkner returns to the Tasmanian side after overcoming knee soreness to take on Victoria next week. And young Clarence quick Riley Meredith is a chance to make his first-class debut after taking eight wickets in the Futures League this week. Tigers squad: George Bailey (c), Gabe Bell, Alex Doolan, Jake Doran, James Faulkner, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Tim Paine, Sam Rainbird, Tom Rogers, Jordan Silk, Matthew Wade, Beau Webster.