Fast bowler Jackson Bird has been named to make his Australia debut in the second cricket test against Sri Lanka starting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day.
The 26—year—old Bird, who has been the leading wicket—taker in Australian domestic first class cricket for the past two seasons with Tasmania, was included on Monday in Australia’s lineup ahead of Mitchell Starc.
Starc has been rested under Australia’s rotational selection policy, designed to spread the workload among its fast bowling contingent.
Captain Michael Clarke has been named in the team and will be given until Wednesday morning to prove his recovery from a hamstring injury. Clarke moved freely when he batted in the nets during Australia’s training session on Monday.
