Aussie Bird cleared for SA tour, Marsh out

SYDNEY (AP): FAST BOWLER Jackson Bird overcame a back injury yesterday and will fly to South Africa to join the Australia squad for the three-Test series against the world’s No. 1-ranked team.

Batsman Shaun Marsh was ruled out, though, with a calf problem, and replaced by Phil Hughes.

Bird and Marsh were held back when other Test team members left for South Africa on Wednesday. After back- toback days of net bowling under the watch of Australia coach Darren Lehmann, Bird was cleared to tour and will fly today alongside all- rounder Moises Henriques.

Left-handed batsman Hughes was on standby for Marsh and will head to South Africa “as soon as possible”, Cricket Australia said.

The first Test at Centurion starts February 12, the second in Port Elizabeth from February 20, and the third in Cape Town from March 1. The countries will also play three Twenty20 games.

The bulk of Australia’s squad, including captain Michael Clarke, arrived in South Africa on Wednesday night and will head to Potchefstroom, west of Johannesburg, for a four-day warm-up match against a South African invitational team next week.

Australia are boosted by a 5-0 drubbing of England in the Ashes, which lifted the them to No. 3 in the Test rankings behind the South Africans and India.

South Africa is unbeaten in five years in test series, but its last loss was at home to Australia.