Aaron Bird

{{short description|Australian cricketer|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}

{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Aaron Bird

| image = Aaron Bird.jpg

| country = Australia

| fullname = Aaron Christopher Bird

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|9|28|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Taree, New South Wales, Australia

| heightm = 1.82

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm fast

| role = Bowler

| club1 = New South Wales

| year1 = {{nowrap|2005/06–2009/10}}

| columns = 3

| column1 = FC

| matches1 = 6

| runs1 = 101

| bat avg1 = 14.42

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 29

| deliveries1 = 857

| wickets1 = 14

| bowl avg1 = 41.78

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 4/80

| catches/stumpings1 = 1/–

| column2 = LA

| matches2 = 25

| runs2 = 65

| bat avg2 = 8.12

| 100s/50s2 = 0/0

| top score2 = 12*

| deliveries2 = 1,122

| wickets2 = 34

| bowl avg2 = 30.91

| fivefor2 = 1

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 5/26

| catches/stumpings2 = 7/–

| column3 = T20

| matches3 = 12

| runs3 = 29

| bat avg3 = 9.66

| 100s/50s3 = 0/0

| top score3 = 17*

| deliveries3 = 238

| wickets3 = 21

| bowl avg3 = 17.42

| fivefor3 = 0

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 3/21

| catches/stumpings3 = 5/–

| date = 23 April

| year = 2023

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4429.html ESPN cricinfo

}}

Aaron Christopher Bird (born 28 September 1983) is an Australian former cricketer who played first-class cricket for New South Wales. He played as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast bowler.

Bird arrived from Taree, NSW as a 16-year-old to play Sydney Grade Cricket with North Sydney Cricket Club, eventually going on to play First Grade as an 18-year-old. In this time with North Sydney, Bird hit the headlines when he hit former Test batsman Michael Slater injuring the former test star in the process. Bird now plays his cricket with Bankstown Cricket Club, former home of the Waugh brothers.

Bird caused controversy after appearing in a Twenty20 match, in which players wore nicknames on their shirts, with the moniker 'Flu' – a reference to bird flu. He was ordered not to wear the name again, as it might anger the sponsors of the tournament, KFC.{{Cite web |last=Williamson |first=Martin |date=15 January 2006 |title=Kisses, nicknames and dead sheep |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/kisses-nicknames-and-dead-sheep-232866 |access-date=2022-01-16 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}

In December 2006 Bird was reported for a suspect bowling action but was later cleared by Cricket Australia.{{cite web|url=http://content-www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/311411.html|title=Aaron Bird cleared of suspect action|date=18 September 2007|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=25 February 2009}} In January 2009, his bowling action was again reported.{{cite web|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/388366.html?CMP=OTC-RSS|title=Bird ordered for tests on suspect action|date=30 January 2009|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=30 January 2009}} After undergoing analysis at the Australian Institute of Sport biomechanics laboratory in Canberra it was found that for some deliveries his elbow extension exceeded the 15-degree limit, he was subsequently banned by Cricket Australia.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22829836/ |title=Bird shot down for illegal action |date=25 February 2009|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=November 7, 2019}} After being mentioned by the umpires in a Blues' Twenty20 match in January 2010, Bird ended his first-class career in April 2010; he would continue to play grade cricket for Canterbury-Bankstown.{{cite web | url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22573289/new-south-wales-quick-aaron-bird-ends-first-class-career | title=Aaron Bird ends first-class career | date= April 17, 2010 | accessdate=November 7, 2019 | author=Cricinfo staff}}