Australia has been forced to make a change to their XI for the Boxing Day Test, after Mitchell Starc was ruled out due to a heel injury. He has been replaced by Jackson Bird in the side, which otherwise remains unchanged.
It continues a string of bad luck for Starc when it comes to the Boxing Day fixture which has seen him regularly forced to sit on the sidelines through injury during Australia’s most prominent and celebrated Test fixture of the year.
He has played only one Boxing Day Test in his career, in a win over Pakistan last year, but this will be the fourth occassion that he has missed the match, either due to injury or being dropped from the XI.
Hopefully the stint on the sidelines will enable him to recover quickly and be ready for Australia’s 2018 tour of South Africa, arguably a higher priority to focus on given that the Ashes have been officially reclaimed.
Bird makes his return to the top level having not played a Test in 12 months.
Long On
Guest
Rather novel to be using shield performance for test selection. I prefer Sayers given his potential in he north of England
Basil
Guest
Yes, Sayers Test record is rather unimpressive...
Alan
Guest
Mitchell Johnson should come in, still goes alright
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
I get that Bird is next in line but "like for like" wouldn't be a bad idea. Bird is a good replacement for Hazlewood but a third right arm pace bowler is lacking variety when Starc is injured.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
As the Ashes is already in the pocket, he should be given a rest to recover from his heel injury to become fit for the very important SA tour in March next year.
Granter
Guest
Haha they've given them to English cricketers for less
Chui
Guest
Get a knighthood?
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Sayers deserves to be well and truly behind Bird in the pecking order - not only has Bird got more wickets at a much better average than Sayers in the Shield this summer but he's also got a very good Test record (34 wickets at 27 from eight Tests).
Adsa
Guest
Cummins will take the new ball with Hazlewood and Bird will be first change. England will look forward to Cummins with the new ball. What will Root do when he wins the toss?
jammel
Guest
Yep, Sayers is next in line after Bird. Phenomenal record/performances over the last 2 years. But then again Patto's still to return if he can get fit!
jammel
Guest
Like it - certainly sounds like the move for Starc! Bird really deserves another crack in Tests, he'll go just fine. He hasn't let us down before and looks in good form. I'm looking forward to it!
El Loco
Roar Rookie
I'd love to see Sayers get a go but Bird's a proven test player and in hot form, you can't go past him.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
It doesn't make any difference. If someone breaks down just prior to the toss they'll bring someone like Sayers in anyway
Mark
Guest
Why wont they give Sayers a go?
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
That means we don’t have a reserve quick in the squad, what do we do if Cummins or Hazlewood breaks down just before the toss, no harm in adding Sayers to the squad, he isn’t playing bbl anyway