Jackson Bird, Tasmania and Australia pacer has penned a red-ball contract with Lancashire for the upcoming County Championship season. Bird is set to be available for Lancashire's third game of the season against Kent and will play six County matches for the side. The seamer has 34 wickets to his name in Tests and has bagged 401 first-class wickets. He has also taken 22 scalps in the ongoing Sheffield Shield competition. "I'm really happy to have the opportunity to come over and play for Lancashire," Bird said on Thursday (March 18). "I've felt in good form during this year's Sheffield Shield and hope I can continue this into the English summer and help the Club in the County Championship. I feel as though I have unfinished business in English county cricket, and I am looking forward to showing my best to my new teammates and the Members and supporters at Emirates Old Trafford," he added.
With Graham Onions retiring from professional cricket and Richard Gleeson troubled by a back problem, Bird will add the required depth in the pace attack. "Following Graham Onions's retirement at the end of last season, it was important that we were able to add depth to our quick bowling ranks and help to replace his on-field leadership of the attack. Richard Gleeson will be unavailable due to a back injury for the first part of the season, so Jackson will give us another option for those six four-day fixtures," Lancashire Director of Cricket Paul Allott. "Jackson's accuracy and ability to swing the ball means that he is an incredibly useful asset to have in English bowling conditions and I am looking forward to seeing him in action for Lancashire this summer," he added. Bird is currently playing Sheffield Shield cricket for Tasmania and has taken 22 wickets at an average of 26 in six matches this season. Bird, who has previously represented Hampshire and Nottinghamshire, has made nine Test appearances for Australia, taking 34 wickets, and has 401 career red-ball wickets at an average of just 24.
