Blues' Bird recalled for one-dayer

Aaron Bird is in line for his first state match since clearing his name over a suspect bowling action. Bird, the New South Wales fast bowler, has been included in the Blues' squad for their FR Cup game against Western Australia at the SCG on Wednesday.

Last season Bird's whippy action was reported by several umpires but it took until September for his bowling style to be passed as legal after stress fractures in his back significantly delayed his biomechanical testing. Bird replaces Mark Cameron, who has a side strain, in the New South Wales squad.

He said facing a potential ban from state cricket had been devastating. "It was the worst point of my career," Bird told the Sydney Morning Herald.. "For something you love so much, and you work so hard for, to be taken away like that breaks your heart.

"I always knew I was right to go and I proved that. Whenever there is a different action, people are going to have questions or queries on it. When there is enough mud thrown, sometimes it sticks.

"What has come out of all of this is how much I love the game. Even though I was struggling so much with it all, I was still enjoying playing."

Wednesday's one-day game is followed by a Pura Cup match between the two sides that starts on Friday. Western Australia have regained their captain Marcus North for both encounters, and he is set to play his first state games for the season after missing more than half the summer with a degenerative knee condition.

New South Wales FR Cup squad Phillip Hughes, Simon Katich (capt), Daniel Smith, Brad Haddin (wk), Dominic Thornely, Steven Smith, Moises Henriques, Nathan Hauritz, Matthew Nicholson, Nathan Bracken, Aaron Bird, Doug Bollinger.

New South Wales Pura Cup squad Phillip Hughes, Greg Mail, Simon Katich (capt), Brad Haddin (wk), Peter Forrest, Dominic Thornely, Steven Smith, Grant Lambert, Moises Henriques, Beau Casson, Matthew Nicholson, Nathan Bracken, Doug Bollinger.

Western Australia FR Cup squad Justin Langer, Luke Ronchi (wk), Shaun Marsh, Marcus North (capt), Adam Voges, Luke Pomersbach, Sean Ervine, Theo Doropoulos, Aaron Heal, Brett Dorey, Steve Magoffin, Ben Edmondson.

Western Australia Pura Cup squad Chris Rogers, Justin Langer, Shaun Marsh, Adam Voges, Marcus North (capt), Luke Pomersbach, Luke Ronchi (wk), Aaron Heal, Brett Dorey, Steve Magoffin, Ben Edmondson, Mathew Inness.