Bird enjoys the Dukes but South Australia lower frustrates Tasmania

Tasmania seamer Jackson Bird reminded the selectors of his skill with the Dukes ball claiming four wickets to give the Tigers the upper hand against South Australia on in Adelaide.

Bird, who has played one Test in England during the 2013 Ashes but hasn't featured for Australia since his Boxing Day outing against England in 2017-18, put on a fine display of swing and seam bowling as the Redbacks were all out for 257 after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Bird was a touch fortunate to claim his first wicket with newly promoted No.3 Jake Lehmann spooning a length ball to cover where Jordan Silk took an exceptional catch diving to his right.

But his next two were trademark good-length outswingers to nibble the edges of Callum Ferguson and Tom Cooper's bats to leave the Redbacks struggling at 5 for 109.

Captain Travis Head had made 50 of those and looked set to continue his outstanding form from the Sri Lanka Test series before wafting at a wide ball from Tom Rogers and edging to keeper Tim Paine.

The Redbacks lower order mounted a salvage mission with keeper Harry Nielsen and seamer Joe Mennie both contributing 43. Mennie remained unbeaten after striking five fours and a six in a final-wicket stand of 64 with Chadd Sayers

Even Tasmania captain Matthew Wade was able to cash in on a day where he wasn't wearing the gloves, claiming the wicket of Cam Valente who slapped a full toss straight to gully.

Bird took the last of the innings to finish with 4 for 53 from 18.3 overs before Tasmania's openers, Jordan Silk and Alex Doolan, got through to stumps unscathed.