Jackson Bird: Hampshire now optimistic over injury

Jackson Bird's made his Australia Test debut against Sri Lanka in December 2012

Hampshire's injured fast bowler Jackson Bird may be able to play for the county sooner than first thought.

He has yet to play a match for the club and last month it was announced he would be returning home to Australia because of shoulder and neck injuries.

Hampshire hoped he might return for the final two months of the season, but he is now to stay in the UK for treatment.

"The plan now for Jackson is to stay and rehab with us," Hampshire chief Giles White told BBC Radio Solent.

"He is going to be around and will work with the team and come back as soon as possible."

Fellow pace bowler Fidel Edwards will return to the West Indies next month to play in the Caribbean Premier League and Hampshire are keeping fingers crossed that 28-year-old Bird could be available around the same time.

"It might link in with when we lose Fidel Edwards to the CPL in mid-June. That's the plan. Get him fit and going mid-June and get him on the pitch," said White.

"If he is over here we will see where we are. It is one of those injuries that we are not really sure of a recovery date as such, it's slightly open-ended.

"With him being here in the country, if it happens sooner that we thought then great, if not then nothing is lost."