Michael Neser became the oldest Aussie fast bowler to claim a five-for in Australia’s second Test win of the 2025 Ashes at Gabba as they marched to a 8-wicket win after his 5-42. At age 35, all his outings for the Baggy Greens have played in pink-ball Tests.
But on his return from the wilderness, a controversial call that saw Nathan Lyon, lone spinner, being dropped, Neser also had to get used to another thing – wicketkeeper Alex Carey standing up to the stumps to him. ESPNCricinfo noted how it gad been a notable feature of this Test, just like in Neser’s previous Test against West Indies in 2022, when the chirpy gloveman helped pile on the pressure. .
“I know the role I play is very different to the other quicks,” Neser told ESPNCricinfo. “Being a shorter bowler, maybe not as quick, it’s a way for me to keep the batters on the crease and bring the stumps into play. I’ve done it a lot in the past,” recalled the 6 footer.
“The first time I did it, I definitely didn’t want to do it as a fast bowler, but Uzzy (Usman Khawaja) taught me to just put the ego aside because it’s beneficial for you. We’ve seen Vernon (Philander) do it a lot in his Test career, successfully, so it’s something I’ve brought in later on in my career,” he told Cricinfo.
Same age as Starc, Neser has played 99 Tests fewer than Starc’s 102. He might’ve played a few more but injured his hamstring against India last year, turning out for Australia A – an injury tgat kept him out 12 months. He ditched county cricket this year and focussed on strengthening for the Ashes.
“To be honest, after last season when I thought I was bowling superbly…and I did my hammy really badly, I thought that could have been my chance,” Neser said. “I’ve always dreamed about playing for Australia. It’s something that I live and breathe, is cricket. So to be given another chance, I’m very honoured.
“It was a long recovery, think it was 12 weeks out of it, and I may have come back a week or two quicker than I should have. I probably wasn’t 100% at the back end. I chose not to go to county cricket and focus on getting my body right for the start of the season and really focus on Australian summer. A big pre-season did me wonders. I feel strong again and I feel like my hammy is back to where it was.”
Story continues below this ad
At Gabba, Neser was also part of the cohort that drew out the slowest strike-rate out of the Bazballers in the first session on Sunday. At one point, even the boisterous Barmy Army refused to join a Mexican wave, given England’s dire straits and yawning rate of scoring.