Chadd Sayers gets national call as he replaces injured Jackson Bird for South Africa series

After winning the urn from the hands of English side at home, Australians are ready to venture in South Africa. Ahead of the series, the Aussie squad got a blow as quick-bowler Jackson Bird was ruled out from the side. South Australia’s Chadd Sayers has been named as the replacement for Bird for the 4-match Test series.

Interestingly, Chadd Sayers had shown displeasure in open when he was not selected in the Australian squad for the series. Sayers’ been in a terrific form with the ball as he has performed consistently in the Sheffield Shield tournament where he won a player of the tournament last season.

Sayers in an interview given to Cricbuzz after winning the player of the tournament had said that he wants to keep improving in order to be in the scheme of selectors for the national call. “I’m extremely driven and will put my best foot forward to keep improving and being in the mix to play for Australia,” the 30-year-old had said to Cricbuzz.

Bird’s form has been shaky in his last game as the 31-year-old could only manage a wicket in 2 innings playing for Tasmania against Queensland. His last outing for the Australians in white too didn’t fetch him a good result as he remained wicket-less in the boxing-day game during the Ashes. He’s out of the series because of a hamstring injury which he sustained during the last round of the Sheffield Shield.

Disappointed for Bird: Smith

Steve Smith, the Australian skipper who won the second Alan Border medal after his stellar performance in the Ashes said that he was disappointed for Bird and said that he was a terrific guy to be in the side. “It’s tough news for him (Bird). He’s a terrific guy to have around the group, he works incredibly hard,” Smith said on Tuesday.

He mentioned that the news will be exciting for Sayers. He also termed Sayers an ideal replacement for Bird. “It’s kind of a like-for-like bowler,” Smith told. He also said that Sayers has been rewarded for his good outings in the Sheffield Shield.

The first Test of the series starts on 1st March. The Australian team is expected to arrive South Africa prior to the series to prepare themselves better.