Bird to sit out Blues stoush
JACKSON Bird will be welcoming a new member to his nest while his Tigers teammates tackle the unknown in their Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales from Friday.
Bird will not be travelling to Sydney for the game, instead staying home for the birth of his first child.
Tasmania is not only without its leading wicket-taker from the past two seasons but will be playing at the unfamiliar Drummoyne Oval, instead of the scheduled SCG.
Tigers coach Jeff Vaughan said Bird will be missed but the 14-man squad heading to Sydney has the flexibility to come up against whatever conditions are thrown at them.
From the squad that drew with Western Australia at the WACA in the Tigers’ first shield game, Bird is joined by Jake Doran as omissions, and spinners Beau Webster, Clive Rose and Jarrod Freeman have been added.
“We were always prepared for Jacko to miss this game,” Vaughan said.
“It’s a very exciting moment in his life so we are very happy to support him and wish him all the best.
“When we heard it was going to be at Drummoyne we decided to take the extra player, just to ensure all our bases are covered.
“We are expecting it to be a lowish and slowish type of SHEFFIELD SHIELD, ROUND 2 wicket, which is pretty similar to the SCG.
Apart from playing at a Test venue, which everyone craves for, it doesn’t change a lot in our preparation.
We could play multiple spinners, we could play three depending on the facilities.”
Lawrence Neil-Smith will likely play his second game for Tasmania after impressing on debut against WA.
The 20-year-old pace bowler took 3-81 and 2-90 and made 39 not out while putting on a 111-run ninth wicket partnership with Tim Paine, which allowed the Test captain to reach just his second century (121) at first-class level, breaking a 4738-day drought since his first.
“To face 150 balls was wonderful support to Painey and he [Neil-Smith] bowled really well throughout,” Vaughan said.
“I’m really pleased with what he showed with the ball, he showed he is a long-term first-class cricketer.”