Ex-Oz quick Fleming compares debutant Bird to legendary ‘Pigeon’

Sydney: Former swing bowler Damien Fleming has compared debutant pace man Jackson Bird to Australian legend Glenn McGrath, and added that the 26-year old can take lots of wickets in Test cricket with his accurate line and length.

Bird showed few nerves in picking up 2-32 in 13 overs during his debut in the second Test match against Sri Lanka at the MCG, maintaining his outstanding first-class strike rate at the ground. Bird`s five maiden overs highlighted control that not only claimed two key early breakthroughs, but also what Fleming believes will be critical in English conditions during next year`s Ashes series, News.com.au reports. Fleming coached Bird in his time at the Australian Cricket Academy and said the subsequent improvements to his technique were the building blocks of a promising international career, it added. Fleming backed Bird to take enough wickets in Test cricket to cement a place in the team, and added these were still early days for the fast bowler. Fleming also said Bird is quite similar to McGrath and Stuart Clarke, who can bowl with good accuracy, but believes the Tasmanian’s out swinger is better than that of these two former fast bowlers. Bird’s bowling action also got thumbs up from Fleming. ANI