Sydney-born paceman Jackson Bird has played only three Tests since be burst onto the Sheffield Shield scene for Tasmania in 2011.
He took 53 wickets at 16 to be named the Sheffield Shield Player of the Year on debut to spearhead Tasmania into the final.
Bird suffered back problems in 2013 and 2014, but every time he’s been back on duty, he’s been a consistent wicket-taker.
Despite the setbacks, his first-class figures are impressive – 43 games, 177 wickets at 24.38 with an economy rate of 3.03 and a strike rate of 48.1
So why hasn’t Jackson Bird played more than three Tests?
He’s not a speedman, he’s not a 140-plus km/h bowler the selectors keep seeking, but he does move the ball both ways at a fair clip in the air, and off the wicket.
And he keeps taking wickets that one would reasonably assume was enough to warrant selection – how quaint.
Bird goes into today’s first Test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in Wellington with a Test average of 23.30 for his 13 wickets, with his last Test against England at Chester le Street 30 months ago.
Now 29, Bird should relish the normal windy Wellington conditions and a greenish track as he prepares to do battle with the Black Caps’ brilliant opening pair of Martin Guptill and skipper Brendon McCullum, who is playing his 100 successive Test.
No mean feat in itself.
Bird will be sharing the pace attack with Josh Hazlewood, veteran Peter Siddle and Mitchell Marsh with James Pattinson overlooked by selectors on injury grounds.
Offie Nathan Lyon will be the only Australian spinner, unless skipper Steve Smith decides to bowl his leggies.
But all eyes will be on Bird in his belated recall.
He’s the only St Ignatius schooled Test cricketer, and one of only three from GPS schools since World War 2.
Jim Burke (Sydney Grammar) opened the batting for Australia in 24 Tests in the 1950s, while the third Phil Emery (Shore) played one Test against Pakistan at Lahore in 1994, replacing an injured Ian Healy.
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