Australia's injured Jackson Bird ruled out of India Test series
Bird played in the first warm-up game of the tour against Board President's XI and bowled 10 economic overs giving away only 10 runs.
Injured Australian speedster Jackson Bird has been ruled out of the remaining three Test matches against India due to a bone stress injury on his back sustained during the first warm-up game of the ongoing series.
"Initial tests performed in Melbourne have confirmed that Jackson Bird has a bone stress injury of the low back," team doctor Peter Brukner was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.
"He will undergo further tests tomorrow (Thursday). He will not be re-joining the team in India."
Bird played in the first warm-up game of the tour against Board President's XI and bowled 10 economic overs giving away only 10 runs.
A likely recovery time will not be known until Bird has further tests but it is a worrying development for Australia in an Ashes year, given how well his accurate seam-bowling style could translate to English conditions.
The loss of Bird leaves Australia with a 16-man squad ahead of the second Test, which starts in Hyderabad on Saturday.
At this stage, the selectors have not decided on whether to send a replacement player to join the group, leaving Mitchell Johnson as the only extra fast bowler in the group besides those who played in the first Test.