Aussie fast bowler Jackson Bird wants to play county cricket in England after being omitted from Australia’s list of centrally contracted players.
In the wake of his failure to secure a central contract with Australia, fast bowler Jackson Bird has appealed to County Championship sides to take him on.
Bird wants to keep himself in the shop window for Australian selectors and with the county season in England about to start, joining a side in the competition would provide the perfect opportunity.
“The plan is to get him back bowling in the next month or so and try to get over to England and get in the Ashes that way,” Bird’s manager Tony Connelly said on Sky Sports.
Cricket Australia released their 20-man list of centrally contracted players on Tuesday and Bird was one of several high profile players not included – as well as Moises Henriques, David Hussey, Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith.
Bird only recently broke into the Test side when he made his debut against Sri Lanka in Melbourne at the end of 2012.
The 26-year-old has featured in one other Test match, also against Sri Lanka, since then and has taken an impressive 11 wickets at an average of 16.18 in the five-day game.
The swing bowler rose to prominence after moving to Tasmania for the 2011/12 Sheffield Shield season and notching up an incredible 53 wickets.
Bird was named Sheffield Shield player of the season for his performances with the ball and despite missing out on a central contract, should be in and around the Test side for years to come if he continues his consistent form.
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