'Torn' Neser on track for South Africa reunion

Surprise Ashes star Michael Neser admits he will be a "bit torn" facing off against his native South Africa on Australia's upcoming Test tour with the fast bowler confident he will be fit for selection.

Neser, who shone with 15 wickets at 19.93 in three Tests against England last summer after a host of Australia's first-choice bowlers went down, himself succumbed to injury earlier this month that ruled him out of the Bangladesh series.

"I felt great, I felt great – and then it just went on me," the 36-year-old said of the right calf injury that derailed his preparations for the two Top End Tests he would not have played in anyway given the returns of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.

Born in Pretoria, Neser moved with his family to Queensland when he was 10. He had gone to school around a 15-minute drive from Centurion Cricket Ground, where he returned as a 33-year-old to play an ODI as a late call-up to Australia's squad in 2023.

That series (he played a second ODI in Johannesburg) marks the only time he has played in his country of birth. "I guess it's a mixture of emotions," he said of the potential to play a Test in South Africa.

"I'm a bit torn. Obviously, I was born there, grew up playing cricket there – and my dream was actually to play for South Africa when I was 10. Moved to Australia, things all changed, and now my dream is to play for Australia.

"So going over there will be like a little kid dream come true."

Neser is back bowling off a few steps and plans to be off his full run-up within weeks, which should put him on track to be fit for the three-Test series against the Proteas beginning in Durban on October 9.

Selectors are expected name a Test squad sometime next month and Neser shapes as a potent weapon on potentially bowler-friendly, early-season South African pitches though Scott Boland along with veteran Mitchell Starc will be difficult to dislodge.

"Actually ahead of schedule," Neser said of his rehabilitation from an injury that occurred two months out from the South Africa tour. "I had another scan and results came back very good, so I'm progressing quite nicely.

"South Africa is still on the cards and still what I'm aiming for. Obviously, it hasn't been picked yet, but if all goes well with rehab and everything, I'll be fit and ready for that."

It could be a different story for Neser's fellow South African-born Queenslander, Marnus Labuschagne, who is under pressure to hold his place in the Test team after his lean run of form continued against Bangladesh.

Labuschagne has also never played Test cricket in South Africa – he made his Test debut in Australia's first post-Cape Town scandal series in the UAE in 2018 – but Neser suggested  "the best of 'Marny' is still to come".

"I know Marnus, the person he is – it's not the first time he's been under the pump," said Neser after he signed a two-year contract extension with Brisbane Heat. "I've seen it before – and he rises above it.

"The one thing you can't take away from Marnus is how hard he works and his passion for the game. It's those two things that generally get him out of tough situations. And I'm sure he'll do it again.

"He's so competitive, and I suppose this one thing that's made him such a great player is those attributes."

Australia will head to Africa next week for a three-match ODI series in Zimbabwe before the ODIs and Tests against South Africa.

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: September 24, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban

Second ODI: September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom (D/N)

Warm-up match: October 3-4, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom

First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban

Second Test: October 18-22, St George’s Park, Gqeberha

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town