Sayers stresses no bad blood between selectors and him

Paceman Chadd Sayers believes his relationship with national selectors is "sweet" after being named as injured quick Jackson Bird's replacement in Australia's squad for the upcoming Test tour of South Africa.

The reigning Sheffield Shield player-of-the-year will travel to South Africa after Bird was ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained in Tasmania's recent Shield loss to Queensland. It is a change of fortune for Sayers after he had publically expressed dismay at initially missing out on the squad.

"Hopefully (chief selector Trevor Hohns) gets back to me and I can have a chat to him and can get some clarity on how Jhye Richardson, who has only played five Shield games, was picked ahead of me," a disappointed Sayers said last month. "I'd like to know where I stand in Cricket Australia's eyes and where I can get in their side. It's quite hard to take at the moment."

A beaming Sayers on Tuesday (February 13) insisted there was no lingering bad blood. "We're fine, we had a good chat about missing out, so we're sweet," Sayers told reporters in Adelaide. "It's obviously nice to see his name (Hohns) pop up on my phone."

The 30-year-old is seen as a longshot to play in the four-Test series starting on March 1 with Australia boasting brilliant frontline quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins. However, the trio have endured injuries over the years meaning Sayers and fellow backup quick Jhye Richardson will need to be ready if an opportunity emerges.

"As we all know, there are three big quicks there that are going to get the first crack as always - and they have been going brilliant over the last series," he said. "So I think I will be waiting for an injury but I'll be over there and putting my best foot forward."

An accurate and probing seamer, Sayers bowls at relatively pedestrian speeds - possibly explaining why he was initially overlooked in favour of the speedy Richardson. Under coach Darren Lehmann's mantra, Australia aims to set the tone through an intimidating and fiery pace attack - characteristics a staid Sayers doesn't possess.

Often likened to seamer Vernon Philander, the 30-year-old believed he could emulate the star quick on responsive South African pitches. "I've been watching him (Philander) ever since he started, I guess (we are) similar bowlers," he said. "I've been watching his career so far and I'll keep doing that while I'm over there."

WA players Richardson, Cameron Bancroft, Mitchell and Shaun Marsh will depart tonight to South Africa, while the rest of the squad - apart from stand-in T20 captain David Warner - will leave on February 15.