Jackson Bird's brutal 19-ball burst muddies selection waters

JACKSON Bird's efforts in the tour match have added another layer of mystery to selection for next week's first Ashes Test.

Jackson Bird

JACKSON Bird's efforts in the tour match have added another layer of mystery to selection for next week's first Ashes Test.

Things had seemed relatively simple when Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Ryan Harris were vying for three fast bowling slots in the team but that has changed considerably.

On the eve of the Worcester match Darren Lehmann floated the possibility that Australia could play an extra bowler, nominating James Faulkner.

Shane Watson's return to the top of the order means he will not be able to contribute as many overs as he has in the past two years and opened up thoughts of playing another seamer.

It may have been this that led the coach to speculate about adding somebody such as Faulkner who can bowl and bat.

"If we went down the five-bowler attack, that's where he (Faulkner) would probably come into it," Lehmann said this week.

"But again he's been fantastic. I've been really impressed by him.

"His work ethic is great off the field and he's developing nicely into a really good cricketer. He's one of the first picked for Australia in one-day and T20 . . . Test cricket, got to wait and see the balance."

Bird too has staked a claim by taking 4-4 in a compelling 19-ball burst on the second day of the tour match.

The 26-year-old Tasmanian got his chance at Test cricket when Starc was left out of the Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka last year as part of a rotation policy that may not be as popular under the new coach.

Bird picked up 11 wickets at 16 from his two outings against Sri Lanka but then promptly broke down, ruling himself out of the India tour. On reflection he may find it was a good career move.

Out of favour England opener Nick Compton was adopted by Worcestershire for the warm-up match against Australia and nominated Bird as the pick of the bowlers. "I just thought he bowled quite well with the new ball," Compton said.

"There was not a huge amount of swing but he had the ability to angle it in sharply at times to right-handers. On that wicket it was the right angle to bowl.

"You had to bowl wicket to wicket with a mid-wicket and he did that with a lot of control. He did not get too many wrong and it was quite hard work at times."

Bird was not fully fit for the Australia A tour and found it frustrating to have to operate at less than full pace but is fit now and ready for a place in the Ashes line up.

"The physio and support staff have been looking over me pretty closely not to rush me back into things," Bird said yesterday.

"I spent the time over here with Australia A (last month) and that was a bit of a frustrating tour because all the other guys were going at 100 per cent and I still had training wheels on, I guess. I'm back at 100 per cent now and ready to go next week if required."

Siddle had seemed a shoo-in for the first Test but has struggled to take wickets in early outings while Bird outpointed Harris in the tour game. Pattinson appears to be the only bowler who has demanded a place in the side when hostilities begin next Wednesday although Nathan Lyon would be confident that the spinner's position is his.

Although inexperienced at Test level Bird believes he will cope if selected. "There's been a lot of hype over this Ashes series," he said. "I'm just looking forward to it if I get the chance."