October 28, 2016

Australia v South Africa: Jackson Bird left out of Test squad over batting concerns

Australia __have left bowler Jackson Bird out of their Test squad to host South Africa because of concerns over the batting strength of their tail.

Bird, 29, took a five-wicket haul in his last Test in February, but loses his place to debut call-up Joe Mennie.

Mennie, 27, struggled with the ball in his debut ODI series in South Africa, as Australia were whitewashed 5-0.

"We've got to get runs at the bottom of the order," said selection chairman Rod Marsh.

"I talked to Jackson again this morning and I said the thing that probably cost him a place was his batting."

Bird's batting average in first-class cricket is 8.97 with a high score of 32, compared to Mennie's 18.27, which includes five half-centuries.

Australia suffered a number of lower-order collapses during their 3-0 series loss in Sri Lanka in August.

Shaun Marsh is preferred to Joe Burns at the top of the order, after replacing him and scoring a century in the third Sri Lanka Test.

Bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc both return after missing the South Africa ODI series through injury.

The first Test begins on 3 November in Perth.

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Joe Mennie, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.

Test schedule

3-7 1st Test, Perth (02:30 GMT)

12-16 2nd Test, Hobart (23:30 GMT, 11-15 Nov)

24-28 3rd Test, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) (d/n) (03:30 GMT)

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