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Career reborn under pink lights - Michael Neser's redemption at 35 is biggest Ashes plot twist

Akshita Patel

Michael Neser redemption at 35 [Source: @HeatBBL/X.com]Michael Neser redemption at 35 [Source: @HeatBBL/X.com]

Michael Neser walked into the Gabba on Day Four of the second Ashes 2026 Test like he was heading towards a storm. But he didn’t know history was awaiting him on that magical night.

When Australia named an all-seam attack for the second Ashes 2025 Test and left out Nathan Lyon, one of the country’s greatest ever spinners, it felt less like a tactical move and more like a betrayal to many. 

Social media erupted, pundits questioned the logic, and Lyon himself made no secret of his disappointment. 

The decision was bold, controversial, and loaded with pressure for the man who replaced him, a 35-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder who had waited forever for another real chance at this level. 

When risk turns to reward for Michael Neser

And then Michael Neser turned that pressure into redemption. Under lights, with the pink ball moving and England beginning to show defiance through Ben Stokes and Will Jacks, Neser delivered the kind of spell most fast bowlers only dream of in Ashes cricket. 

He hit the same unplayable length again and again, tight, stump-to-stump, with subtle movement that forced mistakes. 

First came the edges, then the breakthroughs, and finally the landmark of a maiden Test five-wicket haul (5/42) sealed with the dismissal of Brydon Carse. The crowd rose. The critics fell silent.  

In one long, fiery evening, Michael Neser not only justified his selection but also rewrote the narrative around it.

The long road to one magic spell

For most of his career, Michael Neser has lived in the shadows. Good enough to dominate the Sheffield Shield. Good enough to be constantly on the fringe. Never quite “first choice” in a country overflowing with fast-bowling talent. 

Behind Cummins, Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Boland, and others, he became the forgotten man who was always reliable but rarely rewarded. Before the Gabba Test, he had played only 2 Tests, both day/night, but had over 400 wickets in first-class cricket.

But cricket, especially Test cricket, has a funny way of returning what is earned through patience.

At 35, this wasn’t just a good day for Michael Neser. It was a statement. A reminder that experience, control, and discipline still matter in a game that often worships only raw pace and youth. 

There was no flashy celebration, no long stare-downs. Just a quiet, gritty fulfilment of duty, the very essence of old-school cricket values.

What future holds for Michael Neser in Ashes 2025/26?

And now, with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood still battling injuries, the Ashes 2025 landscape has shifted slightly in favour of Michael Neser.

What once looked like a one-off opportunity could turn into a genuine extended run. Australia have seen what he offers, which is control under pressure, knowledge of conditions, and the priceless ability to contribute with the bat. 

In a series where small margins and long days matter, those traits become invaluable. He is not simply a fill-in anymore. He is a genuine option, perhaps even a trump card, in the longer plans of this Ashes campaign.

This isn’t the story of a late bloomer chasing glory. It feels more like a craftsman finally being handed the right tools at the right time.

Whatever happens next in the series, whether his role continues or he steps aside once the regulars return, one thing is already certain that the Gabba will always be Michael Neser’s home.

At 35, when many careers fade, his found a moment that could define it forever.