‘I dreamt of this as a kid’: Neser emerges as Australia’s unlikely Ashes hero

Michael Neser’s long and winding journey back to Test cricket reached a fairytale moment on Boxing Day as the 35-year-old all-rounder starred in Australia’s dominant opening day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Playing his first red-ball Test at the MCG, Neser produced a match-shaping performance in front of a record crowd of 94,199, top-scoring for Australia with a crucial 35 off 49 balls before tearing through England’s batting line-up with figures of 4 for 45. His efforts helped Australia seize control of the Ashes contest on a remarkable day that saw 20 wickets fall.

Australia were dismissed for just 152 after being sent in to bat, but Neser’s counterattacking knock added vital substance to an innings otherwise dominated by England’s seamers. When England replied, Neser proved even more influential with the ball, dismissing Jacob Bethell, Joe Root and captain Ben Stokes to rip the heart out of the tourists’ batting order as they were bowled out for only 110.

The performance capped a remarkable comeback for a player who began the summer on the fringes of Test selection. Neser was returning from a serious hamstring injury and was initially overlooked for Australia’s squad for the opening Test in Perth. He was recalled only after injuries to Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott, earning a place in the pink-ball Test in Brisbane, where he claimed his maiden five-wicket haul on home soil.

Despite that success, Neser was squeezed out of the side for the return of Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon in Adelaide. Further injuries, however, opened the door once again, and Neser grasped the opportunity in what became his fourth Test appearance.

“I didn’t know if I was going to be playing for Australia again and to be in the position I am now, I’m very privileged,” Neser said after play. “It’s unreal. I dreamt of this as a kid. Every Boxing Day I would wake up early and my brother and I would play backyard cricket for hours, then come back in and watch the cricket. To be part of it now is a dream come true.”

Neser’s extensive Sheffield Shield experience proved crucial on a pitch that closely resembled the seam-friendly MCG surfaces seen in recent domestic seasons. Drawing on his time with Queensland and Australia A, he combined aggression with the bat and patience with the ball to devastating effect.

“The ball definitely nipped around a bit there with the new rock,” Neser said. “It was about finding ways to put pressure back on their bowlers, and when we bowled, being patient and letting the wicket do the work.”

On a day that underlined the relentless demands of Test cricket, Neser’s performance stood out as both a personal triumph and a significant boost for Australia’s Ashes campaign — a Boxing Day memory he had once only imagined as a child.