Former Test paceman Jackson Bird wreaks havoc in Sheffield Shield demolition

Former Test paceman Jackson Bird has wreaked havoc in the Sheffield Shield on Sunday morning, claiming seven wickets to skittle New South Wales for their lowest ever score in first-class cricket.

After Tasmania recorded 333 in the first innings, the Blues top order quickly crumbled to 3/0 at Blundstone Arena, with Bird the chief destroyer.

As revealed by Wide World of Sports reporter Brett Graham, it was the first time New South Wales had lost their first three wickets for no runs in Sheffield Shield history, dating back to 1892.

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The 34-year-old removed New South Wales opener Daniel Hughes with his fourth delivery of the innings, trapping the left-hander in front LBW — it was his 300th first-class wicket for Tasmania.

Bird then knocked over Blues No. 3 Daniel Solway two balls later in identical fashion, the right-hander making his way back to the sheds for a duck.

The seam bowler then found the inside edge of former Test batsman Kurtis Patterson’s bat in his following over, with gloveman Tim Paine accepting the regulation catch.

After veteran paceman Peter Siddle chimed in on the action, Bird removed Blues opener Nick Larkin to leave New South Wales reeling at 5/13.

Bird cleaned up the Blues tail to finish with remarkable figures of 7/18 off 10 overs, the second-best bowling figures for a Tasmanian in Sheffield Shield history.

New South Wales were ultimately all out for just 32, wicketkeeper Peter Nevill top-scoring with 10 not out.

It was comfortably the state’s lowest ever score in the game’s longest format, and the fourth-lowest for any team in Sheffield Shield history.

New South Wales’ previous lowest first-class total was 53, coincidentally coming against Tasmania at the same venue in the 2006/07 competition.

Despite holding a mammoth first-innings lead of 301 runs, the hosts bizarrely opted not to enforce the follow-on.

But to rub salt into the wounds, Tasmania quickly surpassed their opponent’s first innings total without losing a wicket.

BEST BOWLING FIGURES BY A TASMANIAN IN THE SHEFFIELD SHIELD

Peter Clough — 8/95 vs WA, Feb 1984

Jackson Bird— 7/18 vs NSW, Mar 2021

Jackson Bird — 7/45 vs NSW, Mar 2016

Colin Miller — 7/49 vs VIC, Mar 1998

Adam Griffith — 7/54 vs VIC, Nov 2004

LOWEST TOTALS IN SHEFFIELD SHIELD HISTORY

27 — South Australia vs NSW, 1955/56

29 — South Australia v NSW, 2004/05

31 — Victoria v NSW, 1906/07

32 — New South Wales vs Tasmania, 2020/21

35 — Victoria vs NSW, 1926/27

The last of Bird’s nine Test matches came during the 2017/18 Ashes series, where England opener Alastair Cook feasted on Australia’s bowling attack on a flat MCG deck.

He has claimed 34 wickets in international cricket, averaging 30.64 with the ball.

Bird is currently Tasmania’s highest wicket-taker in Sheffield Shield history, with 306 scalps at a remarkable average of 21.22.

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Earlier on Sunday morning, Bird mustered his highest score in first-class cricket, cracking 54 in an entertaining cameo that featured five boundaries and two sixes.

Australian captain Tim Paine top-scored for the Tigers, accumulating 87 before Blues veteran Trent Copeland trapped him in front LBW.

New South Wales seamers Mitchell Starc, Harry Conway and Copeland finished with three wickets each.