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Australia Announce Test Squad For NZ Tour; Domestic Legend Recalled

image-lse4s8rzMichael Neser has played 2 Tests for Australia [X.com]

Australia have made a conditions-based call in asking backup seamer Michael Neser to rejoin their Test squad ahead of the two-match series in New Zealand. As they gear up to face their Trans-Tasman rivals, the Aussies believe Neser's steady right-arm seamers and ability to swing the ball could come in handy in conditions there. 

Neser has been acting as a longstanding backup to Australia's famed pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc and was part of the touring squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June against India.

The 33-year-old Queensland pacer has been a workhorse at the first-class with a stellar 357 scalps at just over 24. However, his only two Test outings for Australia have arrived when one or two from the famed trio have been injured. He has played the Adelaide Tests of the Ashes 2021-22 and the West Indies series in 2022-23. 

Australia Hand Michael Neser A Comeback 

Notably, Neser has pipped Western Australia speedster Lance Morris in the backup pacer's role for the pair of Test championship games despite a rare poor season in first-class cricket. He has taken nine wickets at an average of 50.33 in the Sheffield Shield this summer but the selectors believe he offers greater utility in the conditions in New Zealand.

Morris picked up a side strain playing the ODI series against the West Indies but wouldn't have travelled to New Zealand either way, especially since the Australian squad already features Scott Boland. The young uncapped pacer had been given maiden call-up for the Perth Test against Pakistan earlier in the summer. 

"We'd be looking at a different type of fast bowler. The luxury of this tour only being in New Zealand, it's not a massive trip, so a number of players in specific roles that if we do need to get them across that it's not too much of a challenge, so Lance would have been in that boat," chief selector George Bailey was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. 

The first Test of the two-match series will be played in Wellington from February 29, before the teams move to Christchurch for the second Test starting March 8. 

Australia squad for NZ Tour

Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc