Queensland Cricket Awards: Michael Neser named Bulls Player of the Year for third time

Queensland Player of the Year Michael Neser sees the cherry of Aussie Test recognition as ‘the fuel to keep driving me.’

Paceman Michael Neser has again been named Bulls Player of the Year. Picture: AAP

• Clarke’s savage slight on Aussie teammates
• The ultimate Australian cricket quiz...Part TWO!

When he finds anyone who can sell him a home gym, paceman Michael Neser is going to turn his cancelled county stint with Surrey into hard months of body work to finally win a Test cap.

Neser's canny bowling is largely unsung everywhere but Queensland where he was on Wednesday named winner of the Ian Healy Trophy as the Bulls Player of the Year for the third time.

His 33 wickets in just six Sheffield Shield games, with regular nicks into the slips, were indicative of a bowler doing everything possible to stay in poll position with the Australian selectors as back-up Test paceman should anything trip the trumps.

Watch sport on Kayo. Anywhere. Anytime. Just $25/month, cancel anytime. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Paceman Michael Neser has again been named Bulls Player of the Year. Picture: AAP

“I've forgotten how many times I've been 12th man, maybe 10 or 11, but I know the pecking order because Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are just killing it,” Neser said.

“I see the cherry (of Test selection) and just can't get it and I use that as fuel to keep driving me.”

He sees the silver lining to the Surrey contract dissolving while the sporting world grapples with the coronavirus scourge.

“With this break, I see it as a chance to improve physically because 100 per cent the reason I started to play better was staying on the park and playing more cricket,” Neser said.

He had hoped to have a home gym sorted by now to start work on strengthening his hamstrings and general body twinges.

Michael Neser is determined to finally crack a Test cap. Picture: AAP

“(Keeper) Jimmy Peirson and I were looking into home gym options but everything is sold out so it's plenty of hill runs for me for the moment,” Neser said.

Neser was proud of the third-placed Bulls' best cricket this season before it was shut down early.

“There's still a bit of a hole in the heart, a 'what if?' to this summer, because we had an amazing team and if we'd got to a final, who knows,” Neser said.

“I still think we'll have a Bulls team for a few more years that could dominate with guys like Marnus (Labuschagne) and now Bryce Street coming through with the bat.”

Sammy-Jo Johnson was named Queensland Fire’s Player of the Year. Picture: Tara Croser.

Fast bowler Sammy-Jo Johnson was named Queensland Fire Player of the Year for the second time, while T20 World Cup champion Jess Jonassen was named the Heat’s Most Valuable Player during the winning WBBL campaign for most wickets (21) and second most runs (419) for the club.

Originally published as Queensland Cricket Awards: Michael Neser named Bulls Player of the Year for third time