Bowling all-rounder Michael Neser has been recalled to Australia’s Test squad as Pat Cummins’ team embarks on a red-ball tour of New Zealand for the first time in eight years.
Neser is the only inclusion after Australia’s Test series against Pakistan and West Indies this summer.
The Queenslander played the last of his two Tests in December 2022 but has been a regular around the red-ball set-up for the last five years.
His selection has raised eyebrows given he has been down on form for Queensland this summer while young guns Xavier Bartlett, who took 8-38 in the ODI series against the West Indies in his debut international outings, and Spencer Johnson are seen as Test quicks of the future.
Neser, who turns 34 next month, has taken just nine wickets in six Sheffield Shield matches this summer ag 50.33.
With 34-year-old Scott Boland the other seamer in the squad as back-up to Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, neither player is likely to get a run unless there’s an injury, which means at least one of the two reserves spots could have gone to a younger option like Johnson or Bartlett.
Western Australian speedsters Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson were out of the selection equation due to recent side strains.
The Big Three of Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood played in all five of Australia’s Tests this summer but were rested during the recent ODI series against West Indies.
“Nes has been ultra consistent, there’s a skill set there that we really like in certain conditions and hopefully New Zealand provides those conditions, Bailey said.
“It’s great to see Michael Neser get another opportunity in the squad following his ever-consistent performances over a long period of time and the conditions we expect.
“As we know every Test match provides vital opportunities to obtain valuable WTC (World Test Championship) points and we expect this tour will be a tough challenge against a very strong side who have been so consistent at home for a long period of time.”
Boland is right to fly across the Tasman despite suffering an injury scare during a Sheffield Shield match this week. He had scans on his knee but was able to bowl in the second innings and will continue to be managed.
Bailey also poured cold water on young blaster Jake Fraser-McGurk getting a Test call-up anytime soon, saying he needed strong Sheffield Shield performances to be considered for Australia’s red-ball squad.
Two days after Australian legend Ricky Ponting earmarked Fraser-McGurk as a three-format star, the chairman of selectors tempered expectations around the 21-year-old.
“His ability to learn about how to best utilise that (talent) across the formats will be really interesting over the next coming years,” Bailey said.
“His opportunity to go back and get some really good, consistent performances in Shield cricket is really important.”
The Victorian, who crossed to South Australia ahead of the current domestic season, delivered eye-catching performances in his first two ODIs.
Fraser-McGurk belted 41 off 18 balls in Australia’s record win – achieved with 43 overs left – against West Indies in Canberra on Tuesday.
Jake Fraser-McGurk at Manuka Oval. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
It came after he smashed a towering six in Sydney on Sunday on ODI debut before being dismissed on the fifth ball of the match.
“Thrilled with what he did when he came in and great to see him get an opportunity through those one-dayers,” Bailey said.
“There’s clearly a high, high degree of talent with Jake.”
AUSTRALIA: Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.
with AAP
Opeo
Roar Rookie
"Let’s have relevant numbers. " lol. Sutherland has a better average this session, as he has had every season.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You'd be better off talking about cricket. Nothing interesting about the silliness you are offering.
Doogie
Roar Rookie
Indeed. Kev is obviously the 2nd best batsman in test history based on stats. Vinod Kambli is a better bat than Tendulkar based on the stats. If you're gunna ignore a limited sample size and go all in on data outliers, lets do it. Kyle Jamieson is better than Glenn McGrath. Rewrite common cricket knowledge completely. Cannot script this stuff :laughing: :laughing:
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If Kev keeps batting like that, whether he gets out or not, he'd be appreciated. What a team wants is performance. The Windies would love that. The reality is what we see. Your "if" didn't happen.
Doogie
Roar Rookie
Guess Kevin Sinclair then is a better bat than everyone. He averages 64 against Australia batting at #8 of all things. Imagine if he opened? 64? That would have to rate him as one of the greatest bats of all time. Now you might say he only played two innings and had a 50 and a NO but I know you won't do that. Gotta be consistent right? :laughing: :laughing:
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If a batsman scores no runs, they average zero. Your argument is compelling if Smith didn’t score runs. The problem with your argument is that he did. If you take out all the runs he scored and pretend he got out when he didn’t, we’d all agree with you, Doogie. As it is, Mitcher’s argument has more substance; actual performance without the fanciful, “if”.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Yes we can. He sucks now & isn’t even getting wickets for Queensland. Would have thought at the very least, that he’d have to be getting wickets for his state side? Father Time has caught up with him, in cricketing time.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Agreed. If you’re going to keep choosing the older 3 paceman now. At least alternate leaving one of them out , to put a new & younger pace bowler in. Neser is now old & a hack . Not even getting wickets for Queensland. Was never quite quick enough or talented enough. If there was no swing, he had little else & got slammed around the ovals . Boland is at least tall. Still lacks pace & can be blasted around by batsmen as well. Running down the pitch at him. As we saw in England. Time for change is now , in all forms of the game.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I’d prefer Bartlett in NZ conditions, I’d tend to agree the best wickets for Morris would be Perth and Brisbane.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Doing Queensland a favour. With 9 wickets this season at 50.33. Should be retiring & do us all a favour.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
Love me some Joel Paris!
PaddyBoy
Roar Rookie
Good point man! I was thinking Bolands style would work well in NZ, economical with slight variation off the pitch doing the work for him, but you might be right. Will be fascinating! Has Boult retired? Always been a fan.
Doogie
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: Bro - You funny. No mention that without a 90NO in a losing side he's averaging meh? Or that because we didn't have a world class #4 we couldn't get the bikkies? Or that Green isn't even the best allrounder in his state? Or we go with Shield stats are the be all and end all (hint hint bangers)? Selectors played crazy land to keep Bangers out of the team. This is not a secret. Their amazing decisions cost a test against, wait for it, a Gabba test against a second 11 WI team. Not there best guys - a second 11. And now we are talking WTC points are important. Man - too funny.
Mitcher
Roar Rookie
The untried Test opener who just carried his bat and is averaging 60 up top. And surely the untried label doesn’t apply to the new #4. The #4 who has batted 24 times at 4 in the Sheffield Shield averaging 65.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Yes, some people take it to the extreme where they try to invent a new English word with a Germanic root to replace a latin-based word that does not have a suitable Germanic synonym. I am not a fan of that I do prefer to use, for example, 'drink' rather than 'beverage', or 'big house' rather than 'mansion'.
Mitcher
Roar Rookie
Recognising the actual selectors aren’t using that term. It’s a media label. So no actual disparagement of anyone in reality.
Ace
Roar Rookie
I'm ever the optimist Don. As usual it's a "wheat from the chaff " . Those who have ' it' will come through
Frodo
Roar Rookie
Morris has pace. That is all. Genuine test batsmen would take him to the cleaners!
Frodo
Roar Rookie
How about them Vics, hey? Could win it all this year despite WA being the best team ever!
Frodo
Roar Rookie
Can't see it. Without a fast, bouncy wicket Morris doesn't have much i.m.o.