Bird states case 'behind the scenes'

Jackson Bird can't match Pat Cummins for express pace, but the right-armer impressed selectors during the past summer and has a clear idea of what's required in India.

Bird was predicted to be on drinks duty throughout the ongoing four-Test series, but he's now firmly in the mix for the third Test following Mitchell Starc's foot injury.

Starc will play no further part in the series, which is level at 1-1 and continues in Ranchi on Thursday. Cummins was yesterday named as Starc's replacement in the squad, with vice-captain David Warner suggesting the 23-year-old speedster had the firepower to lead the attack.

Quick Single: Warner brings calm after turbulent Test

And while rushing Cummins into the side appears the obvious temptation, the New South Welshman's long history of injury may be a consideration despite a successful return to Sheffield Shield cricket last week, in which he took eight wickets and – equally importantly – emerged unscathed from the match.

Bird stepped up in his own right after being part of selectors' mid-summer overhaul of the Test XI following five straight defeats.

The 30-year-old is rightly growing tired of talking about Cummins and fellow firebrand James Pattinson – and when they'll return.

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"I'm sick of being asked what I'm going to do when those guys are both fully fit again," Bird told AAP prior to flying out for Australia's Test tour of India.

"It's definitely not annoying, people are always going to be talking about those guys because they're two quality fast bowlers. They can both bowl over 145 kph and swing it both ways.

"But I can't control when they get selected … and I complemented Starcy and Josh Hazlewood pretty well in the home summer."

Bird grabbed 13 wickets in three wins following his most recent recall, with skipper Steve Smith admitting the fast bowler was "unlucky" to be dropped in favour of spinner Steve O'Keefe for the SCG Test.

"The exciting thing for me is I didn't really bowl my best this summer, but I contributed and took regular wickets," Bird said.

"I've still got a lot of improving to do."

Coach Darren Lehmann noted earlier this week that Bird had been "one of our best bowlers behind the scenes".

The Sydney-born paceman, who made his first-class debut in 2011 after moving to Tasmania, knows the subcontinent carries unique challenges.

"India is a bit of an eye opener when you go over there for the first time," Bird said, having suffered a series-ending injury early in the 'Homeworkgate' tour of 2013.

"The wickets are different.

"The ball is different, it goes soft very quickly over there, the seam goes soft and you get no movement whatsoever.

"It's about changing your angles up. Coming around the wicket or over the wicket, going wide of the crease, but always attacking the stumps."

Quick Single: Cummins has firepower to lead attack: Warner

Cummins return to Shield cricket was his first first-class match in six years following a raft of injuries, however Warner backed the paceman to make an impact if selected for Thursday's Ranchi Test.

"We know he's got a lot of pace which he will definitely bring and that's one thing we always talk about," Warner said on Saturday.

"You always have to have someone who is a spearhead quick and that's always been the Australian approach and we know he's got that firepower.

"It's been a long time (since his last Test) and he's been working his backside off to get his body right for one and it was great to see him come back and play the Shield game the other day and bowl well.

"We know with Patty as (Starc's) replacement we're going to have that firepower there if the selectors go that way."

Test Squads

India (for third and fourth Tests): Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandaran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund.

Australia: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Stephen O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade

Australia's schedule in India

Feb 23-27, First Test, Pune - Australia won by 333 runs.

Mar 4-8, Second Test, Bengaluru - India won by 75 runs.

Mar 16-20, Third Test, Ranchi

Mar 25-29, Fourth Test, Dharamsala