Jackson Bird overlooked for Australia's first Test against South Africa due to batting

By Chris Barrett
Updated October 29 2016 - 1:19am, first published October 28 2016 - 5:27pm
Tough to swallow: Jackson Bird has been left out of the Test squad due to his batting. Photo: Scott Barbour
Tough to swallow: Jackson Bird has been left out of the Test squad due to his batting. Photo: Scott Barbour

National selector Rod Marsh has admitted that Jackson Bird, who bowled Australia back to the world No.1 ranking in New Zealand this year, was tipped from selection for next week's first Test against South Africa because of his inferior batting to newcomer Joe Mennie.