Bird grounded by hamstring strain

Test quick Jackson Bird has suffered a hamstring strain less than one week before Australia are due to depart for the Qantas Tour of South Africa.

Bird was playing for Tasmania on day two of their JLT Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland at the Gabba when he was forced from the field with the hamstring concern.

The right-armer didn’t take the field on day three of the clash on Saturday and a CA spokesman confirmed he was due to undergo scans on Saturday afternoon. 

Bird had bowled 16 wicketless overs for 44 runs on day one of the match and managed 15.1 in the Bulls’ second innings.

He pulled up sore after the first ball of his 16th over and left the field, with Tom Rogers completing the over.

In a double blow for the Tigers, fellow quick Gabe Bell was also forced out of the attack mid-over with an injury concern, just five overs later, during the final over of play on Friday.

After dismissing the Bulls for 255 in their first innings, Tasmania suffered a disastrous collapse to be bowled out for just 115 runs on day two.

With the Bulls building a massive 400-plus run lead on day three and with his bowling stocks diminished, Tasmania captain George Bailey threw the ball to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade during the first session on Saturday.

The move paid off, with Wade taking 3-13 including the wicket of Queensland captain Jimmy Peirson for 61 as the Bulls’ innings ended on 285, a lead of 425 runs.

Bird is one of five quicks included in Australia’s 15-player squad for the four-Test series in South Africa, alongside spearheads Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins and the uncapped Jhye Richardson.