‘It’s a dream’: Michael Neser claims first Test wicket after four-year wait

Michael Neser has delivered the feel-good moment of the Australian summer, claiming a wicket with his second ball in Test cricket.

Michael Neser had to wait four years for a baggy green, but he only needed two deliveries to prove he belonged at Test level.

On Friday evening, the Queensland seamer was introduced to the attack six overs into England’s first innings at Adelaide Oval. The pink Kookaburra was hooping sideways under the venue’s artificial lights, with some mild rain drizzling onto the pitch – you couldn’t envision better conditions for swing bowling.

Neser’s first delivery was bang on the money, pitching on off stump and seaming away from England opener Haseeb Hammed, who got a thick outside edge on the ball. The 31-year-old threw his arms in the air, as did Queensland teammate Marnus Labuschagne at second slip. Almost.

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The next ball was fuller, and Hameed looked to flick it through the vacant gap at mid-on – but the right-hander instead chipped the delivery directly towards Mitchell Starc at catching mid-wicket.

The 27,208 spectators roared in unison as Neser was swamped by his ecstatic teammates, who fervently tussled the bowler’s hair, as is mandatory on such occasions.

Queenslanders Mitchell Swepson and Usman Khawaja rushed onto the ground carrying drinks – but instead of offering the cricketers a beverage, they dropped the plastic bottles on the turf and embraced their mate.

Michael Neser gets his first Test wicket. Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Michael Neser is mobbed by his teammates. Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

“He’s a popular cricketer,” former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist cried on Fox Cricket.

SEN commentator Adam Collins said: “They love him.”

But Neser wasn’t done just yet – the fourth delivery of his Test career was edged by England captain Joe Root, landing agonisingly short of Steve Smith at second slip. Nearly another.

“Two-and-a-half years we’ve waited for this moment, just to see him run in with the ball for Australia,” cricket reporter Bharat Sundaresan said on SEN.

“Now you know why we’ve been saying, ‘Neser must play.’ This is just the beginning.”

Former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket: “When you do your time as Neser has done, and you wait for your chance, it’s a dream to get it in your first over, and that was the exaltation that everyone shared with him.

“He had done the yards. Everything said he’s not going to play, and suddenly he struck in his first over.”

Love how quickly Khawaja dropped the drinks to embrace Neser, Swepson the same. #Ashespic.twitter.com/Oa4F8wkh2P

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) December 17, 2021

I don’t think I’ve seen the entire Australian team so delighted for one of their own. Michael Neser, what a story. The heartbeat of the team, always the fringe dweller, finally takes centre stage. #Ashes

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) December 17, 2021

Michael Neser- great start to his test career.
Could not happen to a nicer or more deserving bloke.#Ashes

— Jason Gillespie 🌱 (@dizzy259) December 17, 2021

Neser’s journey to the Australian Test side began in September 2018, when he was named in the 15-player squad for a two-match tour against Pakistan. Test stalwarts Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins were unavailable for the series due to injury, opening the door for the South Africa-born quick to potentially make his debut in the United Arab Emirates – but national selectors opted instead for the experienced Peter Siddle.

Following a prolific home summer in the Sheffield Shield, Neser was included in Australia’s Test squad for the 2019 Ashes series in England. But of the 17 cricketers on that tour, Neser was the only player who didn’t feature in the Test side’s starting XI at some point in the five-match series.

Six weeks later, Tim Paine and his teammates lifted the Ashes urn in London – while the other 16 players donned their precious baggy greens, Neser celebrated in a white floppy.

Michael Neser in the white floppy after the 2019 Ashes. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Neser became a regular in the Australian camp, serving as the Test side’s 12th man on 16 separate occasions between 2018 and 2021. He couldn’t get a game because the national pace attack was largely monopolised by Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc.

Last month, Neser was named in the Ashes squad alongside West Australian paceman Jhye Richardson, who had been in scintillating form in the Sheffield Shield.

When Hazlewood sustained a minor side strain during the first Test in Brisbane, it became a two-horse race for who would replace the New South Welshman in the starting XI in Adelaide.

But much to the frustration of Neser fans nationwide, selectors announced that Richardson would serve as Australia’s third paceman for the day-night fixture.

Neser’s three-year wait for a coveted baggy green looked set to continue – until he received a phone call about 18 hours before the first ball of the Adelaide Test.

On Wednesday evening, Australian captain Pat Cummins had been deemed a close contact of a person who had tested positive to Covid-19 while dining at the Little Hunter Steakhouse.

The following morning, Cricket Australia confirmed that Cummins had been withdrawn from the pink-ball fixture, and Neser would replace him in the starting XI.

Michael Neser with his baggy green. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“Gutted to miss this Test, but really excited to see Neser finally get his chance in the baggy green,” Cummins posted to Twitter on Thursday.

“He has done the hard yards and is a seriously skilful player. Super frustrating but Covid has thrown us all some curveballs over the last couple of years. Will be cheering along!”

The legendary Glenn McGrath presented a beaming Neser with his baggy green on Thursday afternoon, making him the 462nd cricketer to represent Australia in the game’s longest format. Stand-in captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bat first, meaning Neser would have to wait a bit longer for an opportunity to work his magic at Test level.

But even before he got the pink Kookaburra in his hands, he found a way to stamp his authority on the match.

Michael Neser scored 35 in the first innings. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Neser slapped a quick-fire 35 off 24 balls in Australia’ first innings, entertaining the Adelaide spectators with an array of attacking strokes on Friday afternoon. In the 147th over, he stepped away from a short delivery from England’s Chris Woakes and cracked a cut shot over the point boundary for his first six in Test cricket.

He received a standing ovation from spectators in Adelaide Oval’s western stands when he departed a couple of overs later.

As the Australian bowlers warmed up in the innings break, Neser asked one of the support staff to hold his baggy green during his bowling stint rather than leave it on the floor.

“Another sign of how much it means to him,” Sundaresan tweeted.

Worth the wait 🤩 never write him off and he’ll never let you down #QLDER#asheshttps://t.co/lsQRfgm4HR

— Luke Feldman (@Luke_Feldman) December 17, 2021

Neser has been one the most consistent seamers in Australian domestic cricket over the past few years, taking 87 Sheffield Shield wickets at 21.62 since September 2018.

“We were all so happy for him,” Labuschagne told reporters at stumps.

“I’ve obviously spent a lot of time with him – we’re very, very good mates.

“It’s just so exciting to see him take that first one, which can always be the toughest one.”

England is 2/17 at stumps on day two, still trailing Australia by 456 runs with Root and No. 3 batter Dawid Malan unbeaten overnight. The second Test will resume on Saturday afternoon at 2.11pm local time (2.41pm AEDT).