Jackson Bird out of India series with bone stress injury

In another blow for the Australian team, Jackson Bird who showed a lot of promise coming to India has now been ruled out of the series due to a bone stress injury to his back. The seamer was flown back home after the Chennai Test to have some scans done on his back that he sustained during the first warm-up game of the tour. He bowled only 10 overs in the first warm-up game against the Board President’s XI and conceded only 10 runs which looked positive for the series ahead.

“Initial tests performed in Melbourne have confirmed that Jackson Bird has a bone stress injury of the low back,” team doctor Peter Brukner said.

“He will undergo further tests tomorrow (Thursday). He will not be re-joining the team in India.”

Bird’s injury also throws into light the problem of having their paceman fit in time for the Ashes series later in the year. With their pacemen crumbling from all sides due to injuries, the management will have to manage the workload of some of the players well to ensure their participation at all times. Bird especially, would want to recover in time for the Ashes in England since his accurate seam-bowling style will be an asset in England.

Bird’s loss leave Australia one option short heading into the Hyderabad Test with only Mitchell Johnson being the other pace bowling option for the Aussies. Bird’s replacement however, has not been named yet and the replacement is not likely to be a part of the playing XI in Hyderabad.