Kent sign Jackson Bird to bolster early-season seam attack

The 35-year-old, who has previously turned out for Nottinghamshire and Hampshire in county cricket, topped the wicket-taking charts for Tasmania in the 2020/21 Sheffield Shield

Former Australia international Jackson Bird will join Kent for the start of the LV=Insurance County Championship season.

The 35-year-old, who has taken 419 wickets in first-class cricket, will play up to six games for the Canterbury side.

Bird topped the wicket-taking charts for Tasmania in the 2020/21 Sheffield Shield, claiming 35 scalps at 22.2 apiece.

He said: "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to play County Championship cricket again. There is a talented bowling attack at Kent and I'm looking forward to the challenges that come with that, and helping my new teammates get points on the board at the start of the season."

Away from a nine-Test international career, Bird has previous experience of English conditions, having turned out for Hampshire and Nottinghamshire in the past. He was due to represent Lancashire in 2021, only for injury to curtail that plan.

^{Bird represented Australia nine times in Test cricket}

Kent have already added South African allrounder George Linde on a two-year contract, while Matt Quinn was announced as a permanent signing midway through last season from Essex, bolstering a seam attack that already features Matt Milnes, Harry Podmore, Nathan Gilchrist, Grant Stewart, Fred Klaassen and Darren Stevens.

Paul Downton, Kent's director of cricket, added: "We're delighted that Jackson will be joining us for the early matches of this year’s County Championship.

"He is an experienced bowler who will strengthen our squad as we begin our Championship campaign. He is a proven wicket-taker who will also be a great mentor for our young seamers, and we look forward to welcoming him to Canterbury."

Bird's signing follows a day after Northamptonshire also looked to Australia for an overseas seamer to strengthen their early-summer attack, with Western Australia's Matthew Kelly joining the county ahead of their Division One campaign.