JACKSON Bird hopes to return to Hampshire next year – after ending a frustrating stint on a high.

The Australian seamer took 19 LV County Championship wickets at 39.7 after missing the first six weeks with a freak shoulder injury.

But he has been recalled by Tasmania to rest and prepare for the Australian domestic season.

After signing off with 2-50 as Hampshire beat Warwickshire by 216 runs, he said: “I feel like this game is the best I have bowled since I’ve been here, so it’s disappointing to be going home.

“You never want to get injured but to do so at the start was hard.

“I am bowling how I want to bowl now but it took me a while to get back into it and work out my action.

“Not being able to work my shoulder muscles at 100 per cent was probably the hardest thing.

“It was tough to get back into my rhythm in foreign conditions but I got there in the end.

“I’ve had some inconsistent games but I’ve bowled well at times and in the first innings, the ball came out as well as it has in a long time.”

 

 

Like his Australia Test colleagues, Bird did not find it easy to adapt to the different conditions.

“When I first got here, I focused a little bit more on swinging the ball, moving the ball and bowling a little bit fuller.

“After I stepped back and thought about what I was doing, I realised that I didn’t have to do that much different to what I do in Australia.

“What serves me well is hitting the wicket and trying to get seam movement rather than swing.”

Bird, who also took eight limited-overs wickets, hopes to return. He added: “I’d love to have the opportunity again next year.

“I’m not sure what the story is with visas and that sort of stuff. But I’d love to play county cricket again and return to Hampshire.”