Michael Neser

Michael Gertges Neser ( ; born 29 March 1990) is an Australian professional cricketer. In domestic cricket, he represents Queensland, and the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League, as well as Glamorgan in the County Championship, Royal London One-Day Cup and T20 Blast. He made his international debut for Australia in June 2018. He was a member of the Australian team that won the 2023 ICC World Test Championship final.

Early life Neser was born in Pretoria, South Africa, but moved to Queensland, Australia, with his family when he was 10 years old, settling on the Gold Coast. There he began playing junior cricket for the Broadbeach-Robina Cats and made his first grade debut for the Gold Coast Dolphins at 17 years of age in February 2008. He attended The Southport School throughout his teenage years where he competed in the GPS competition and was awarded back-to-back Paul Norris Trophies in 2006-07 as the school's First XI all-rounder of the year as well as the Westcott Family Trophy for First XI bowler of the year in 2007. In the 2008–09 season he was selected to represent Queensland's under-19 team,

Domestic career In the 2010–11 summer, Neser made both his first-class and List A cricket debuts in the Sheffield Shield and Ryobi Cup respectively, both for Queensland. In 2011 Neser was upgraded from a rookie contract to a full contract with Queensland, and though he was performing well, regular injuries made it difficult for Neser to lock down a permanent spot in Queensland's team. He changed clubs from the Heat to the Adelaide Strikers for future BBL seasons.

As a result of his form for the Heat in BBL|01 and the Strikers in BBL02, Neser was given a shock contract with the Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League. Nonetheless, Neser's form in Australia remained strong, and in the 2013–14 summer he was strong in both of the shorter forms of the game. In the 2013–14 Ryobi One-Day Cup he was the equal-highest wicket taker for Queensland with 10 wickets at an average of 27.40, A back injury ruled Neser out of the entirety of BBL04, and Neser hasn't reached his top form since.

In March 2018, Cricket Australia named Neser in their Sheffield Shield team of the year. In October 2019 he signed as an overseas player for Surrey for the first half of the 2020 season. In October 2020, in the opening round of the 2020–21 Sheffield Shield season, Neser scored his maiden first-class century.

International career In May 2018, he was added to Australia's One Day International (ODI) squad for their series against England, replacing Josh Hazlewood. He made his ODI debut on 13 June 2018, against England. In September 2018, he was named in Australia's Test squad for their series against Pakistan, but he did not play.

In July 2019, he was named in Australia's squad for the 2019 Ashes series in England. On 16 July 2020, Neser was named in a 26-man preliminary squad of players to begin training ahead of a possible tour to England following the COVID-19 pandemic.

In November 2020, Neser was named in Australia's Test squad for their series against India. In January 2021, Neser was named in Australia's Test squad for their series against South Africa. In November 2021, Neser was named in Australia's Test squad for the 2021–22 Ashes series.

Test debut On 16 December 2021, after captain Pat Cummins was ruled out of the second Test in Adelaide due to a COVID-19 close contact and Josh Hazlewood was ruled out due to injury, Neser made his Test debut as Cummins' replacement with Jhye Richardson also coming into the squad. He scored a quick fire 35 off 24 balls with 5 fours and a six as Australia chased quick runs prior to a declaration in their first innings. He came on as the first change bowler in the English first innings & with his second ball in Test cricket he dismissed Haseeb Hameed. In the Australian second innings he was promoted up the order as nightwatchman, doing his job in seeing out the day then being dismissed early on day four, scoring three runs. He took the wicket of Dawid Malan in the final innings of the match to support Jhye Richardson's maiden five wicket haul as Australia won the match by 275 runs. Neser was dropped for the third test in order to facilitate the return of Cummins as the selectors elected to give Scott Boland his debut as an injury replacement for Richardson in preference to retaining Neser in the 11 man team. Neser returned to domestic cricket.

Test recall In December 2022, Neser was recalled to Australia's Test team along with Scott Boland after Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were ruled out due to injury, recording match figures of 5/56 and scoring 18 runs in his only innings with the bat. Despite the strong performance, Neser was left out of the XI for Australia's next Test series against South Africa in favour of Boland as Cummins returned to fitness. Selected for the Test team playing England in December, 2025, Neser took five wickets in the second innings of the 2025–26 Ashes Test at The Gabba, Neser's home ground.