Australian pacer Michael Neser has sustained a right calf strain during training but remains hopeful of selection for the tour of South Africa scheduled for October.
The 36-year-old was not included in Australia’s squad for the upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh beginning next Thursday, as star pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood return from injury layoffs.
Neser, who has played five Test matches and taken 22 wickets at an average of 18.90, was a standout performer during Australia’s Ashes-winning campaign earlier this year. He claimed 15 wickets at an average of 19.93, including a maiden five-wicket haul at his home ground in Brisbane, and two four-wicket hauls in Melbourne and Sydney, during the Boxing Day and New Year Tests.
He had been training fully as a standby for the Bangladesh series, prepared to step in if injury issues arose among the ‘Big Three’ pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood. However, the calf injury now requires around a month of rehabilitation following a running session. After recovery, Neser will focus on rebuilding his bowling workload ahead of the South Africa tour, where he is expected to be part of a robust five to six-man pace attack for the back-to-back Tests in October, according to Cricinfo.
Previously, Neser suffered a hamstring injury bowling for Australia A against India A before the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which hampered his Test aspirations at that time. He was awarded a central contract following his performances in the Ashes but opted not to play county cricket for Hampshire over the winter to concentrate on Australia’s demanding schedule of 20-21 Tests over the next year.
Recognising the ageing and injury-prone nature of their pace attack, Australian selectors, medical staff, and coaches have identified the need for reliable backup bowlers, with Neser among the key options. He attributes his late-career success at Test level to increased sprint training and higher-intensity bowling sessions with a reduced overall workload. Throughout the Ashes series, Neser consistently bowled at speeds around 140 kph, maintaining his highest sustained pace to date.
Neser’s injury concerns are the primary setback emerging from the training camp. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis experienced back spasms during a two-day centre wicket practice session but is expected to be fit for the first Test, having managed similar issues previously. Australia’s quick bowlers, including Scott Boland alongside the returning pacers, are reported to be in excellent condition. The final pacer position for the first Test is anticipated to be a contest between Hazlewood and Boland.
Lead spinner Nathan Lyon, returning from hamstring surgery, participated effectively in centre-wicket practice at Allan Border Field, bowling long spells and taking three wickets. Batters Marnus Labuschagne, Jake Weatherald, and Cameron Green gained substantial game time, with all producing half-centuries during batting sessions.
All-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster, both pace bowlers, could feature together in the same line-up, with Green potentially moving up to number five following the retirement of southpaw Usman Khawaja in January. Additionally, selectors have included promising Queensland batter Jack Clyton in the Cricket Australia XI to face Bangladesh in a three-day practice match before the first Test on Thursday. New South Wales veteran Kurtis Patterson will captain the CA XI, with all 13 players eligible to both bat and bowl in the non-first-class match against Bangladesh.