Bird eyes Test spot in impressive return

Having not bowled a ball in competitive anger for a couple of months, Australia A quick Jackson Bird could have perhaps been forgiven for a little rust on day one against India A at Allan Border Field.

Or nerves.

Or even just an early loosener.

The fact that there wasn't a hint of any of the aforementioned will have delighted selector-on-duty Trevor Hohns, who watched Bird work his way impressively through 18.3 overs to claim the figures of 3-53.

And despite awarding himself just a pass mark for his day one deeds, the Tasmania paceman was nonetheless satisfied with his output.

"I've been training a fair bit, doing a lot of work down in Tassie getting ready for this game," said Bird, who spent the recent Sri Lanka series watching on from the sidelines, doubtless frustrated he couldn't build on his five Test caps that have been dotted across the past four years. 

"I had to work into my rhythm a little bit, but I got my line and length right quite early in my first spell, which was nice, but there was a little bit of juice in the wicket as well, which helped."

Quick Single: Quicks put Aus A on top after first day

Bird was a new addition to this Australia A side and captain Joe Burns would have been licking his lips at the prospect of unleashing the metronomic quick under cloudy Brisbane skies on a pitch that was showing a hint of green. 

Teaming up with South Australia pair Chadd Sayers and Kane Richardson, the trio dominated the opening session as they adhered to a game plan that put their team in the box seat. 

"We controlled the scoreboard pretty well," Bird said. "We were consistently challenging their defence and we were bowling maidens as well, and that's what we spoke about in our team meeting.

"The 5-43 they were at lunch shows the pressure we were able to build."

Bird has already won the support of retired paceman and Bupa Support Team member Ryan Harris as the man to accompany Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in a three-man pace attack for the first Test against South Africa at the WACA on November 3.

Quick Single: Harris picks his attack for first Test

Australia only played two quicks in Sri Lanka but Bird was a star performer in the preceding tour of New Zealand, taking seven wickets in the second Test in Christchurch including a maiden five-wicket haul.

The 29-year-old could understandably claim a degree of ownership to that third fast-bowling spot but with Peter Siddle racing to be fit for the summer and a host of new fast-bowling talent emerging through the Winter 'A' series, he is acutely aware it's far from that simple.

Yet today's performance was certainly a timely reminder of his talents.

"There might be a spot up for grabs with the third seamer, so you never know," he said of his selection chances for that first Test, which is seven weeks away.

"It's a good opportunity for me and the other guys to put the hand up and to show the selectors what you can offer.

"Hopefully I'll be there for the first Test but you never know what's going to happen."

Bird's consistency in the opening session was exceptional but the man himself said his performance waned slightly with the softening of the pink ball in the middle session.

"I was a little bit inconsistent in my second spell – I probably bowled too many full balls," he said.

"But in saying that I don't mind that on this sort of wicket; I'd rather be driven than cut or pulled, so I guess it's a pass mark for today."

With flying colours.