Most Sheffield Shield wickets, full list: Discarded Australia Test seamer becomes fifth to breach 400

With 396 wickets, Bird was already fifth on the list of Sheffield Shield wicket-takers when the match against Victoria went underway at the Sydney Cricket Ground. New South Wales made 238 after a bizarre start, and Victoria secured a 56-run lead. Opening bowling, Bird got 3-24 from 10 overs to reach 399.

Watch: Sam Konstas out slog sweeping Scott Boland seventh ball in unusually rapid Sheffield Shield start

NSW needed to defend 231 in the fourth innings. By 13 overs, they were reeling at 31-5. Bird had taken four of these wickets: the wicket of Marcus Harris, the first of the innings, was his 400th. He later returned to claim another wicket to finish with 5-68 in 15 overs, his 19th five-wicket haul in the Sheffield Shield.

Having debuted for Tasmania in 2011-12, Bird continued to play for them until 2022-23 before switching to NSW. He also played nine Tests between 2012-13 and 2016-17, from which he picked up 34 wickets at 30.64 including 5-59 against New Zealand at Christchurch in 2015-16.

Bird is 38 wickets away from overtaking Michael Kasprowicz and securing second spot on the all-time list, though at 513, Clarrie Grimmett is some distance clear of the others. Bird also has the best average among all bowlers with 350 Sheffield Shield wickets.

Most wickets in Sheffield Shield

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