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The uncapped Sayers had recently publicly expressed his disappointment about being overlooked for the South African tour after continual stellar first-class performances.

Chadd Sayers, the indefatigable South Australian seamer, has been drafted into Australia's squad for the upcoming Test tour of South Africa as a replacement for injured quick Jackson Bird.

Bird has been ruled out of the tour after straining a hamstring during the last round of the Sheffield Shield. Prior to the setback, he had struggled in Tasmania's hefty loss to Queensland claiming just one wicket across two innings. Bird was wickletless during the Boxing Day Test - his only Test of the summer.

The uncapped Sayers had recently publicly expressed his disappointment about being overlooked for the South African tour after continual stellar first-class performances, highlighted by winning the Sheffield Shield's Player of the Year award last season.

Cricketer Sayers told Cricbuzz:

After winning the prestigious award, Sayers told Cricbuzz that he was determined to play for Australia. "I'm extremely driven and will put my best foot forward to keep improving and being in the mix to play for Australia," he said.

Steve Smith, the Australian captain, said he was disappointed for Bird but believed Sayers was an ideal replacement. "It's exciting for Chadd," he said in Melbourne on Tuesday (February 13). "It's kind of a like-for-like bowler. They both stand the seam up nicely and Chadd's been rewarded for what he's done in Shield cricket for the last couple of years.

"It's tough news for him (Bird). He's a terrific guy to have around the group, he works incredibly hard," he added. "He's just a great guy to have on tour with you - a terrific team man. I certainly feel for him that he unfortunately has this injury at this time."

Australia's squad - apart from stand-in T20 captain David Warner - will depart for South Africa this week ahead of the first Test starting on March 1.
Collected By- newaz robin.