Michael Neser, the forgotten man of the Australian Test pace attack, has reminded everyone of his capabilities at Tasmania’s expense.
The Queensland opening bowler ripped through the home team’s top order in their Sheffield Shield match on Friday, taking the first six wickets of the Tasmanian first innings in a devastating nine-over spell after lunch.
Replying to Queensland’s first innings of 9 (dec)-425, Tasmania collapsed after lunch from 0-86 and were dismissed for 161 at Bellerive Oval.
Tasmania followed on and were 1-70 at stumps in their second innings, still 194 runs behind with two days left.
While Queensland and Tasmania started this penultimate round as the bottom two teams, a big win would keep one of them in the hunt to make the final against SA.
Following Usman Khawaja’s century on Thursday, Neser’s command performance confirmed Queensland have the game by the throat.
He snared 6-37 from 15 overs. It is his third Shield game back after a hamstring injury in November while playing for Australia A cruelled his hopes of a Test return this summer.
The 34-year-old has played only two Tests, most recently against the West Indies in late 2022.
Neser has had to bide his time, stuck in Australia’s pace-bowling queue behind Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland.
He was faultless on Friday, always looking dangerous even when Tasmanian openers Nivethan Radhakrishnan and Jake Weatherald built their solid stand.
Neser bowled Weatherald for a top score of 55 and took a wicket in each of his next three overs.
When he trapped Radhakrishnan lbw for 39 and bowled Beau Webster, Tasmania were 6-122 and Queensland – who resumed on Friday at 6-309 – were in the box seat.
Mark Steketee had Radhakrishnan caught behind for 24 late on day two, with Weatherald 39no.
Gabe Bell and Webster took three wickets apiece in Queensland’s first innings and Khawaja top-scored with 127.
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au