Jackson Bird sent home from Ashes tour after suffering recurrence of back problems Jackson Bird will leave a Test tour early for the second time this year. JACKSON Bird is the third Australian fast bowler in a matter of weeks who has succumbed to recurring back problems. He will return home to receive further assessment and treatment on a lower back injury which is feared to be stress fractures. James Pattinson was sent home after the second Test at Lord's last month while Pat Cummins was recently sent home from Australia A's tour of South Africa. It continues a history of ongoing injury problems with Australia's fast bowlers. Seven were unavailable at different stages last summer. Bird was sent home from the tour of India in March with stress fractures. Pattinson has been suffering back problems from the age of 16 while Cummins will miss his third summer in a row with stress fractures. Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said Bird had lower back pain over the past week following his only Test of the tour at Chester-le-Street.