Border Gavaskar Trophy: Aussie pacer likely to miss Perth Test match

Australia A's Michael Neser was in the midst of a fiery opening spell during the second unofficial Test against India A at the Melbourne Cricket Ground when he began to experience discomfort in his left hamstring. After delivering just two balls of his 13th over, Neser signaled an issue and, much to his disappointment, was forced off the field. Cricket Australia has confirmed that the seamer will not continue in the match, effectively ruling him out for the remainder of the day’s play. Neser’s availability for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy was already uncertain due to the ongoing injury concerns surrounding fellow pacer Cameron Green, who is sidelined with a lumbar spine fracture. While Neser was not initially a guaranteed pick for the series opener in Perth, this injury may now increase his chances if he recovers in time.

At present, it seems unlikely that Neser will feature in the Australia vs India first Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, especially with the tight schedule. However, the 10-day gap between the first and second Tests gives him a potential window to recover. Should he regain fitness, there’s a possibility that he could join the squad later in the series. Neser has faced similar injury setbacks in the past, including a recent hamstring niggle during the Sheffield Shield, which caused him to miss a One-Day Cup match. Despite this, he remains a valuable asset to Australia’s pace attack.

Michael Neser experienced some discomfort while running on the outfield during the second unofficial Test against India A, attributing the soreness to the extra sand on the ground, which had accumulated due to the ongoing Australian Football season. The unusual conditions seemed to affect his stride, leading to the injury that ultimately forced him off the field. His claims were corroborated by teammates Mitchell Starc and Sean Abbott. Starc, who has had his own issues with cramps, acknowledged the difficulty of playing on such a surface, while Abbott mentioned that his legs felt unusually heavy due to the added sand.

The presence of extra sand on the field was a result of the football season, which often leads to modified outfield conditions at some Australian venues. This unexpected element of the playing surface appeared to have played a role in contributing to Neser's injury, as well as causing discomfort for his fellow pacers. With the added strain, it was no surprise that Neser’s hamstring gave way, raising concerns about his availability for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Fortunately, the team remains hopeful that with rest and recovery, Neser could return to the squad later in the series if needed.

The bowling all-rounder was in exceptional form right from the start. In his very first over, he struck twice, removing Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan in quick succession. His next over saw India A’s skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, fall cheaply, leaving the team reeling. By the third over of Day 1, India A were already four wickets down, struggling at a crucial juncture.

India A were eventually bundled out for just 161 runs, leaving Australia A with a solid opportunity to take control of the match. Despite the early setbacks of losing their captain, Nathan McSweeney, and the experienced Cameron Bancroft, Australia A remained confident. They concluded the day’s play with a healthy 108-run deficit, but still in a strong position, having plenty of time to recover.

While India A’s batting crumbled, Australia A showed resilience in their response. Despite the loss of key wickets, they remained in the hunt, with the match still in the balance heading into Day 2. The early breakthroughs by the bowler had given India A hope, but Australia A's solid start meant the contest remained wide open, with both sides eyeing the advantage.