Australia will embark on an important tour to South Africa next week. Just when all things looked settled for the  men in yellow, they have been hit back by an injury scare. 

Test quick Jackson Bird has suffered a hamstring strain less than one week before Australia are due to depart for the Qantas Tour of South Africa.

Bird was playing for Tasmania on day two of their JLT Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland at the Gabba when he was forced from the field with the hamstring concern.

The right-armer didn’t take the field on day three of the clash on Saturday and a CA spokesman confirmed he was due to undergo scans on Saturday afternoon. 

Bird is one of five quicks included in Australia’s 15-player squad for the four-Test series in South Africa, alongside spearheads Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins and the uncapped Jhye Richardson.

Australia and South Africa are slated to play four-match Test series, beginning  from March 1 at Kingsmead in Durban. 

Australia's tour of South Africa schedule

22 - 24
Feb
3-day warm-up match
Willowmoore Park, Benoni

01 - 05
March
1st Test
Kingsmead, Durban

09 - 13
March
2nd Test
St George's Park, Port Elizabeth

22 - 26
March
3rd Test
Newlands, Cape Town

30 March-
03 Apr  
4th Test
New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg