ADELAIDE — Jackson Bird has edged out uncapped fast bowler Chadd Sayers for a place in Australia’s pace attack for the third and final Test against South Africa in Adelaide, captain Steve Smith said Wednesday.
Bird, capped five times but overlooked in favor of debutant Joe Mennie for the second Test defeat in Hobart, joins fellow seamers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in a raw team featuring three new batsmen for the day-night match.
Opener Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson will all play their first Tests at Adelaide Oval after selectors wielded the axe following the Hobart humiliation, which gave South Africa an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. Bird will feel relieved, having been the victim of an unusual selection decision for Hobart.
Then-chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said the paceman’s tail-end batting, rather than his bowling, stood against his inclusion.
Local media castigated Marsh for that rationale and the former Test wicketkeeper promptly resigned amid the acrimony that followed Australia’s innings and 80-run humiliation at Bellerive Oval last week.
“(Bird) took five-for (a five-wicket haul) in the last Test match he played, he’s bowled well with the pink ball in the (Sheffield) Shield games that he’s played, bowled well in the nets out the back and deserves an opportunity,” Smith said at a media conference Wednesday.
“Unlucky for Chadd missing out on his home ground.”
Renshaw, a Yorkshire-born 20-year-old raised in New Zealand, will partner David Warner at the top, with Victoria wicketkeeper-batsman Peter Handscomb and left-hander Nic Maddinson fifth and sixth in the order.
The trio deposed Joe Burns, Adam Voges and Callum Ferguson, who all failed at Hobart, but the rookies’ records in first-class cricket have been solid, rather than outstanding.
All-rounder Cartwright included
Australia have named uncapped all-rounder Hilton Cartwright and thrown Glenn Maxwell a lifeline in a 14-man squad for a three-match One-Day International series against New Zealand next month. Selectors have also recalled front-line pace bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood after the pair were omitted from an under-strength squad humiliated 5-0 during their tour of South Africa.
Western Australia all-rounder Cartwright, who was born in Zimbabwe, impressed during the recent Australia A series against India in Queensland.
Interim chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said Wednesday they had been watching the 24-year-old’s development.
“Hilton bowls useful aggressive medium-pace and is a very good striker of the ball,” said Hohns in a media release.
Mercurial all-rounder Maxwell returns from the international wilderness after being ignored for the tour of South Africa following a lean run with the bat.
