Michael Neser feared his Test cricket career was over when a frustrating hamstring injury struck him down at the worst possible time last summer.<\/p>\n
A year later, the affable bowling all-rounder is “strong again” and on the cusp of helping Australia to a 2-0 Ashes series lead.<\/p>\n
Neser, 35, went some way to justifying his shock selection ahead of Nathan Lyon in the second Ashes Test with two big wickets \u2014 both caught-and-bowled \u2014 under lights on day three at the Gabba.<\/p>\n
After England flew to 0-45 at the dinner break, Neser (2-27) stretched high to catch Ollie Pope (26) from his own bowling before giving Zak Crawley (44) the same treatment.<\/p>\n
Crawley played low into Neser’s hands amid a collapse of 6-80 that looks to have cruelled England’s hopes of levelling the series in Brisbane.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Michael Neser \u00a0snaring England number three Ollie Pope and opener Zak Crawley (right). (AP: Tertius Pickard)<\/p>\n
Neser had dropped Ben Duckett (15) on six earlier in the night so was pleased to have struck back with some valuable scalps in the top order.<\/p>\n
“That first one Duckett hit was a bit harder, he hit that very hard. Those are 50-50s but the other two were pretty regulation. Fortunately enough, I caught them,” Neser said.<\/p>\n
England (6-134) went to stumps 43 runs behind Australia, who set a big first-innings total of 511 and appear likely to seal a second win from as many Tests this series.<\/p>\n
This week’s home Test felt a world away for Neser last summer after the Queenslander suffered a long-term hamstring injury playing for Australia A in early November.<\/p>\n
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Neser, who had played the second of his two Test matches in 2022, had been in the mix to replace injured Cam Green for the hotly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy.<\/p>\n
Instead, he watched as Mitch Marsh and Beau Webster earned the nod as all-rounders in the famous series win, all the while questioning his own Test future.<\/p>\n
“To be honest, after the last season, when I thought I was bowling superbly and I had my chance and I did my hammy really badly, I thought, ‘Bugger, that could’ve been my chance,'” Neser said.<\/p>\n
He needed two months to recover from his injury and eventually returned to the pitch for the end of the BBL and Sheffield Shield seasons.<\/p>\n
A mainstay of extended Test squads, he skipped out on a possible county cricket stint over the Australian winter to ensure he would be fit if called upon for the Ashes.<\/p>\n
“A big pre-season did me wonders and I feel strong again. I feel like my hammy is back to the way it was,” Neser said.<\/p>\n
This week marked an end to Neser’s three-year wait for a third chance in the Test team, with the quick called into an all-pace attack for depleted Australia at the Gabba.<\/p>\n
“I always dream about playing for Australia. It’s something that I live and breathe, cricket. To be given another chance, I’m very honoured,” he said.<\/p>\n
Neser holds the odd distinction among world cricketers of playing all of his first three Test matches in day-night fixtures.<\/p>\n
He was called in for a last-minute debut in the 2021\/22 Ashes series before adding a second cap against West Indies in 2022 and then replacing Lyon in Brisbane.<\/p>\n
In a perfect world, Neser would love a crack at red-ball Test cricket, but that may not come this summer with Pat Cummins likely to recover from a back injury for the third Test.<\/p>\n
“I’m very fortunate and privileged that I’ve been given the chance with the pink-ball Tests,” he said.<\/p>\n
“But obviously it’s a dream to play more Tests and red-ball, pink-ball, I love it all.”<\/p>\n
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