Bird to swoop into Shield game

Reserve quick Jackson Bird will get some game time ahead of the second Test in Adelaide by playing in the final three days of Tasmania's JLT Sheffield Shield match against South Australia, which started on Thursday.

But Redbacks quick Chadd Sayers will remain with Australia's squad in Brisbane as he eyes a possible Test debut in his home city next week.

With Australia fielding just four frontline bowlers in the first Magellan Ashes Test, pace trio Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins could be required to carry a heavy workload in the opening Test of the summer.

And with just a three-day gap between the first two Tests, both Bird and Sayers are available to come into the side should they be required.

But the pair will have a contrasting lead-in to the day-night clash in Adelaide, which starts on December 2.

With the confirmation of Australia's first Test XI on match morning, Bird and reserve batsman Glenn Maxwell - who was added to the squad on Wednesday evening as batting cover - were sent back to their respective state teams to play in the fourth round of the Shield.

Having been withdrawn from round three to train with Australia's Test quicks in Brisbane last week, Bird will return to match action for the Tigers in Adelaide to ensure he has three Shield games under his belt heading into the second Test.

Despite missing day one of the match, Bird is permitted to come in as a replacement player under the Shield's Playing Conditions, which allows exceptions for players required for duty by the national team. Starc was withdrawn partway through a Shield match last summer and was replaced by Doug Bollinger, and Victoria had both Marcus Stoinis and James Pattinson pulled out of a Shield match in February last year due to international duty.

Tasmania are yet to confirm who Bird will replace in their XI.

Sayers, who played the first three Shield rounds, will stay with the Test squad in Brisbane meaning he will also enter the Adelaide Test with three first-class games under his belt.

Maxwell flew to Sydney and will play for Victoria in their match against NSW, starting on Friday.

Sayers was a surprise addition to Australia's initial 13-man squad for the first two Tests, with selector Trevor Hohns identifying him as a chance to make a Test debut on his home ground.

"Chadd’s inclusion in the squad is with a view to the Adelaide Test and the conditions that we may see there," Hohns said.

"He swings the ball with good control and knows the conditions well at his home ground. He gives us this bowling option if required."

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21