Originally from Sydney, Bird moved to Tasmania at the start of the 2011-12 season on his first state contract, looking for an opportunity to break into first class cricket – and he hasn’t looked back.
In his first season playing first class cricket, Bird took an incredible 53 wickets at an average just 16, and was a key factor in Tasmania reaching the 2011-12 Sheffield Shield Final, as well as being named the competition’s Player of the Season.
Since then, Bird has not only gone on to be part of a Tasmanian squad to make three Sheffield Shield Finals, but to also cement his status as arguably the modern game’s greatest Shield bowlers.
To date, the 36-year-old has 350 Sheffield Shield scalps to his name at 21.99, which places him 10th on the all-time list of Sheffield Shield wicket-takers; the highest ranked currently-active player.
This also cements his status as Tasmania’s greatest-ever wicket-taker in Shield cricket – a feat he has achieved in 78 matches for the Tigers.
Bird has also been an admirable service to the Tigers in one-day cricket, taking 52 wickets at 34.32 in 41 appearances.
“I am very grateful to Cricket Tasmania and everyone that I have played with and worked with down here for what has been an amazing experience, both professionally and personally,” Bird said in a statement.
“It was a difficult decision to make, but Cricket NSW has offered me an awesome opportunity to be able to come home to Sydney and the Northern Beaches with my family, which at this stage of my career was really just too good an opportunity to refuse.”
Cricket Tasmania is happy that Jackson has the desired opportunity to return to his home state to continue his career, as well as the opportunity to begin preparing for the next phase of his career post-playing.
We wish Jackson, Scarlett, Max and George all the best in this next chapter of their lives.
