An inability to produce consistent line and length cost the Tasmanian Tigers the chance to be better placed after the first day of their Bupa Sheffield Shield clash with NSW at Blundstone Arena.
The Tigers failed to build on two early breakthroughs by producing an inconsistent line and length to the Blues' batsmen, allowing the visitors to declare at 7-341 late in the day.
Tasmanian openers Ed Cowan and Steve Cazzulino survived a tricky six over session before stumps but it took a slice of luck for them to get through unscathed with NSW slips fielder Steve Smith dropping both batsmen from consecutive deliveries in the second last over of play.
"We probably bowled two sides of the wicket for most of the day," Bird said after claiming two wickets.
"They scored probably too many runs in not a full day out in the field, so I think we were a bit lucky for them to declare early, but they need to win the game to stay in the comp."
"I think our batters did well at the end of the day... I think it’s pretty evenly placed now."
Bird admitted the Tigers' attack had underperformed, but with the wicket improving by the hour throughout the first day there was reason for the home side to be optimistic in its pursuit of first innings points.
"The team is probably looking forward to tomorrow. It's a beautiful wicket so if we can get the shine off the new ball it should be good to bat on for most of the day," he said.
While the lack of consistency might have been a side-effect of a recent concentration of short-form cricket on the domestic calendar, Bird was reluctant to make excuses for the performance.
"We've practiced a lot in the nets bowling with the red ball and hitting our lengths so I don’t want to make excuses, but I think it’s more the bowling volume that affects you the most because we've only been bowling four over spells in the last two months, so I think the boys were a little bit underdone in that sense."
The entire Tasmanian team will sleep easier tonight on the back of the two late dropped catches in the Blues' slips cordon that allowed Cowan and Cazzulino to make it to stumps at 0-24.
"We're pretty lucky," Bird said.
"One of the boys was saying they've never seen Steve Smith drop a catch before so we I think we were probably lucky he dropped two catches."
"It's always lucky to get a break like that at the end of the day so hopefully those boys can go on and make a big score tomorrow."
