Sayers replaces injured Bird in Aussies squad

Australian paceman Chadd Sayers has been called into the 15-man Test squad as a replacement for injured quick Jackson Bird for the four-match series against South Africa, beginning March 1 at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban.

Bird was forced to leave the ground after pulling up sore following the first ball of his 16th over while playing for Tasmania on day two of their Sheffield Shield encounter against Queensland at the Gabba this weekend.

He is now expected to remain sidelined for at least three weeks, thus opening the door for the uncapped Sayers who is yet to win a Test cap.

Reflecting on Sayers' inclusion, Australian skipper Steve Smith said that though it was disappointing to lose Bird, they are excited to have the former who has been rewarded for his stellar performance in domestic cricket.

''It's disappointing for Jackson. But it's exciting for Chadd at the same time.They both stand the seam up nicely and Chadd's been rewarded for what he has done in Shield cricket for the last couple of years," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Smith, as saying.

Sayers would join fellow pacemen Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Pat Cummins and Jye Richardson in the squad.

The Australian squad is as follows:

Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.