How snubbed Aussie bowler Michael Neser made Steve Smith look silly at Lord’s before Ashes Test
How the Aussie bowler who was rejected by the Ashes side gave the baggy green’s top hitters a torrid time in the nets at Lord’s – and even made Steve Smith look stupid
- Rejected Aussie bowler’s excellent net display
- Michael Neser beat Smith and Labuschagne repeatedly
- Queenslander is in great shape this year
Dumped Australian fast Michael Neser was absolutely ‘unplayable’ in the nets at Lord’s for the second Test, beating both Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.
Neser, 33, was in blistering form in the County Championship and was unlucky to miss out on the Ashes squad.
The true all-rounder impressed in English conditions, recently making a stunning hat-trick in county cricket for Glamorgan and excelling with the bat.
Neser is also coming off an excellent Sheffield Shield campaign, taking 40 wickets at 16.67 and contributing 357 runs at 35.70 with the bat, including a century against New South Wales.
The Queenslander has helped the Aussies prepare for the second Test, and is likely to remain in excellent form as the side’s bowling line-up remains aloft for the clash.
Michael Neser was absolutely ‘unplayable’ in the nets at Lord’s before the second Test
Neser, unlucky enough to be rejected by selectors, beat both Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne (pictured) several times
Eagle-eyed cricket writer Bharat Sundaresan watched the side train and took to Twitter on Monday to sing his praises.
“Four years later, Michael Neser is still unplayable in the Lord’s nets. Defeated both Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne on numerous occasions and also made Smith bend shoulder arms,” he wrote.
Smith – who is currently rated the sixth best batsman in men’s cricket – is almost never bowled out without providing a shot, underlining how good Neser’s spell must have been.
Several cricket fans expressed annoyance that he has not been called up to the squad.
‘He’s been there for years and there’s nothing he can do to get picked – I really can’t fathom how they keep ignoring Nes. He should just be on the team but selectors keep refusing to pick the best players,” one Twitter user replied.
“And unlike the other bowlers, he can bat… but seriously, he’s doing Kasperowitz-level stuff for Glamorgan. Much better than Labuschange,’ said another.
“Get him in!… Somehow I don’t know how… but GET IT IN,” a third replied.
“It’s disappointing not to be part of that squad, but I have to look at the positives,” Neser told reporters ahead of the first Test.
‘I play cricket here [in the UK]and when I’m called upon, I’m ready to go.
Neser was in great form in the County Championship and was unlucky to miss out on the Ashes squad
Neser (pictured) hopes to be called up to the team in the second half of the Ashes tour
“Having games under my belt is much more important than bowling into the nets and not playing games.
“It would be a special moment if I were selected for the Ashes squad in the back half of the tour.”
The second test starts on Wednesday 28 June at Lord’s.