Bird flies home with back injury

Australia fast bowler Jackson Bird has once again been forced to leave a Test tour, flying home from the Ashes in England due to a recurring back problem that requires immediate attention.

Australia fast bowler Jackson Bird has once again been forced to leave a Test tour, flying home from the Ashes in England due to a recurring back problem that requires immediate attention.

Bird was also forced to leave the tour to India early, and joins fellow paceman Pat Cummins on the long term sidelines. Bird played in the fourth Test in Durham, but was not picked for the fifth at The Oval.

Australia physio Alex Kountouris said: "Jackson has had low back pain over the past week of the Ashes tour and will return to Australia to begin the process of investigating the source of the pain and rehabilitation."

The powers that be will keenly watch his progress, given the return Ashes series in November. As it stands, Mitchell Starc and Ryan Harris join Peter Siddle in the attack, while James Faulkner is playing his debut Test.

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