Michael Neser back in Ashes frame for series finale at The Oval as injuries hit Australia

Bowling all-rounder Michael Neser is back in the selection frame for the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval, with two in-form Aussie stars carrying injuries amid a limp to the finish line against England.

Australia will consider blooding Michael Neser for a late Ashes series cameo amid injury concerns to Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc.

With a 2-1 lead through four Tests, the Aussies arrived in the English capital having secured the Ashes for another couple of years but determined to seal an outright series win in the fifth and final Test at The Oval, beginning on Thursday.

The tourists produced their worst display of the tour in the drawn fourth Test at Manchester, with captain Pat Cummins in particular appearing to be limping to the line after five Tests in seven weeks.

While Cummins struggled, the concerns are more acute for paceman Starc and all-rounder Marsh, both of whom spent time off the field during England’s innings at Old Trafford.

Marsh, who has starred with the bat since entering the series in Leeds to replace Cameron Green, pulled up sore after bowling on day two and did not roll the arm over on day three.

“That’ll be assessed. He’s a little bit sore, hence why he was off the field. So I’m not going to hide that. As to what extent, that’ll be assessed over the next couple of days,” Australian coach Andrew McDonald said.

Mitchell Marsh hits out at Old Trafford, during a great foray with the bat mid-Ashes series. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Starc, who has played four of the five Tests on tour so far (including the World Test Championship final), will also need to be watched after hurting his shoulder in the field.

“Two separate incidents where he dived and landed on the point of his shoulder,” McDonald said.

“So I think he stirred up his AC joint – don‘t quote me on that I’m not a medical person – and then the other one he slipped down on the rope and sort of extended the shoulder joint. So yeah, he’s looking worse for wear and a little bit sore. All indications are that he’ll be right to go but that’ll be assessed.”

Mitchell Starc (C) receives medical attention after hurting his shoulder at Old Trafford. Picture: Oli Scarff/AFP

A side that looked largely settled for the first half of the tour has been shaken since Nathan Lyon’s series-ending calf injury at Lord’s. McDonald would not rule out any options ahead of the fifth Test, including a recall for bowling all-rounder Neser; a perennial understudy who has played two Tests, most recently last December against the West Indies in Adelaide.

Neser has been prolific with both bat and ball in county cricket for Glamorgan.

“Everyone’s on the table, every selection,” McDonald said.

“And Michael knows that. And he was a serious consideration here and he was under consideration at Leeds also, so you’re always sort of balancing those who are up and running in the series versus freshness. And I think that the media at times has critiqued the fact that players haven’t played for a certain amount of time and now we’re talking about players coming in fresh, I think it’s great.”

Michael Neser has been in strong form with bat and ball in county cricket. Picture: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Aussies will also contemplate a recall for off-spinner Todd Murphy, who was controversially omitted for the fourth Test to make way for the returning Green, ending an 11-year streak of Australia picking at least one specialist tweaker in its Test team.

McDonald defended the call to omit the young Victorian.

“We didn’t see spin play a major part within the game. I think that’s the question you’re asking, whether we should have played spin or not. We’ll probably never know the answer to that,” McDonald said.

“But going into the game, we feel as though we picked the right team for the right moment. As I said, we left a few runs out there in the first innings and that compounds, and England played well and Jonny Bairstow put the finishing touches on and gave them a significant lead, but the other thing to consider I think is that the game wasn’t done.”

The coach also said veteran opener David Warner wasn’t far away from converting a start despite his repeated inability to do so.

“He got a couple of starts and looked good at periods of time and didn’t quite capitalise on it. I’m a big believer that if you can get those 20s and 30s, the big score is around the corner,” McDonald said.

“There’s no doubt he’ll be disappointed around that. And Zak Crawley rode his luck at certain times there and put immense pressure on us, and Dave’s been able to do that over time and I truly believe that there is an innings there still.”