The Ashes 2025-26: Michael Neser rattled England and inspired a rising Australian star in the process

Michael Neser’s disciplined line and length had England on edge and Fergus O’Neill taking notes as he plots his own rise in Australian cricket.

The relentless line and length of Michael Neser did more than unsettle England — it inspired hope in an unappreciated craft.

Victorian seamer Fergus O’Neill has made rattling through domestic top orders a habit in recent seasons but has repeatedly had to navigate questions about his ball speed.

O’Neill may share the same charisma as the lightning fast West Indian quicks of the 1980s, but he watched with glee as Nesser and his state teammate Scott Boland locked in with wicketkeeper Alex Carey up the stumps.

The charismatic seamer has always endorsed the room for exquisite skill over extreme speed at the highest level and said Neser’s five-wicket haul showed why last week.

“I quite enjoyed (Carey) up to Ness and Scotty,” O’Neill said.

Fergus O’Neill has been a leading player for Victoria. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Prada frames. Top of off. Ferg has both covered #MadeForTheMomentpic.twitter.com/BIhgehl6Qs

— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) October 16, 2025

“I am going to try and play the way I play the game and if that’s good enough for the next level then it is. But you don’t know if it is until you see it.

“I think we’ve been blessed with the crop we’ve had — fast and skilful — but as I said, Ness has come in three or four times now and done well going about it the way he does.

“If it looks like that for me, perfect, but if not then I might have to go back to the drawing board, get a bit bigger, grow a bit and bowl a bit faster.”

O’Neill took 1-20 off eight overs and 4-53 off 17 for Australia A in a romping win over the England Lions last week.

In trademark fashion, O’Neill joked “where the wickets are green” where he saw his opening to international level before doubling down on his praise for Neser.

“I am trying to put my best foot forward wherever but, to answer your question, I think wherever there’s a bit in the wicket I would like to play like Ness does,” he said.

“He’s obviously been a very good player for a long time and every time he comes in and puts on the Aussie colours he does the job.

“I wouldn’t mind if it looked like that for me.”

Originally published as The Ashes 2025-26: Michael Neser rattled England and inspired a rising Australian star in the process