Neser's class a constant in ever-changing world

Cricket in the COVID era might look decidedly different, but among the elements that remain unchanged is the sight of Michael Neser tormenting top-order batters with the new and old ball.

Neser began the new Marsh Sheffield Shield summer as he finished the last, claiming 5-32 from 17 mostly immaculate overs against Tasmania even though he found it difficult to get his footing on the lush outfield early on and hadn't done a lot of bowling leading into today's season opener.

Neser, a member of the Test squad that retained the Ashes last year as well as the subsequent home campaigns against Pakistan and New Zealand, is yet to play a Test match and was unavailable for the recent limited-overs campaign in the UK after suffering a groin strain during the winter.

The 30-year-old made his comeback in Brisbane's Premier Cricket competition late last month, and duly stunned Tasmania on the first morning of their clash against the Bulls at Gladys Elphick Park in Adelaide where he claimed three wickets in the opening session.

He admits fearing he might miss the first game due to the lingering groin injury and his lack of preparation, but was just as pleased to be back and playing as he was to bag another career five-for.

"The first couple of overs it was quite wet under the feet, so I struggled to find my footing a little bit," Neser said at day's end after Tasmania were bowled out for 250.

"But after that it dried out and it turned out to be quite a beautiful wicket, and we managed to get the Kookaburra shined and it started to swing in the 60th over.

"To be honest, I was thinking at one stage it might be only game two (that he returned to playing) but thankfully everything worked out and I played a couple of club games and it came out well there.

"It's been a while since I bowled in a game like that, but I'm ready for the season.

"I'm just happy it's gone ahead and we've played cricket and doing what we love.

"I'm a pretty simple man – I just look to the next game so I'm looking to stay on the park and keep taking wickets."

Neser trapped Tigers opener Jordan Silk lbw for 10 in the day's seventh over, had Charlie Wakim caught in the gully for a duck three balls later and removed ex-Test batter Alex Doolan (29) when he returned for a second spell shortly before lunch.

Image Id: CC09E156645B4238A15D07E3DEC24AFE Image Caption: Wicket celebrations in 2020 // Getty

At that stage, Tasmania were wobbling at 3-70 but were saved from a day one disaster by Australia-capped T20 batter Ben McDermott whose 74 from 156 balls helped lift his team to a competitive total.

That was despite a telling cameo from lively seamer Xavier Bartlett – who snared three wickets in four overs, including Test skipper Tim Paine (edging to slip for 4) - as Tasmania lost 4-11 on the cusp of tea before Neser returned to scythe through the tail.

It was only some late-order hitting from Beau Webster (54 from 77 balls) and Peter Siddle (33 from 46 in his Tasmania debut) that lifted the Tigers past 200.

Webster was the final wicket to fall, given out caught on the deep long-on boundary when Marnus Labuschagne flicked the ball back to Mitchell Swepson as he slid head-long towards the boundary rope.

Without the benefit of a third umpire to review available video footage, umpires Darren Close and Bruce Oxenford consulted the fielders and conferred to deem it a fair (albeit relayed) catch.

Queensland opening pair Joe Burns and Bryce Street then endured a tough new-ball spell against Jackon Bird and newly bleach-blonde Siddle that brought a few excited shouts from Tasmania but no breakthrough to ensure the Bulls resume tomorrow at 0-7.

Having finished last season as Queensland's leading wicket-taker with 33 from six matches, Neser showed he will again be a force to be countered as he pushes for the Baggy Green cap that has so far remained frustratingly elusive.

And he admits he's coming to grips with the new on-field protocols that surround maintenance of the ball and other routines.

"It's still a bit weird, getting to know all the protocols and everything," he said.

"It's mostly shining the ball and there's a few little things like not handing your hat to the umpire, I seem to always forget that one but it's mainly not shining the ball with saliva.

"We're slowly getting used to it.

"Every now and then you go to do it and then you stop, but it's not too bad.

"You still can't use sweat off your face, so it's just dry shining."

After the uncertainty brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and the scheduling of the first tranch of Shield matches in Adelaide, the first day of men's domestic cricket brought cloudless skies and prompted Paine (standing in for absent captain Matthew Wade) to bat upon winning the toss.

Tasmania have lost 11 of their past 12 encounters against Queensland and were surely hoping the switch to a neutral venue might bring a change of fortune.

The changed circumstances brought about by coronavirus meant the fixture was the first Shield match to be contested at Gladys Elphick Park, a suburban ground transformed into a first-class venue courtesy of transportable buildings and a temporary picket fence.

In keeping with the times, the nature of the parklands pitch was an unknown until Neser and new-ball partner Mark Steketee got into their work, and revealed more when leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson was called to the crease shortly before lunch.

Following a week of heavy rain in Adelaide, there was a predictable sluggishness to the surface that Neser exploited with his canny length and subtle changes of pace.

The south-westerly breeze also helped him tail the ball into right-handers from the southern end from where a majority of the day's wickets fell.

Doolan battled diligently after the loss of two early wickets, but it was only McDermott – curbing his aggressive instincts having arrived at the wicket with the electric scoreboard showing 2-18 – who looked comfortable against Queensland's seam and spin.

Tasmania's woes might have been compounded had Marnus Labuschagne held a sharp chance that flew quickly to him, chest high, at second slip from Jake Doran when the left-hander was 12 and the Tigers were 3-105.

However, the Bulls' next fielding lapse yielded one of the day's highlights as Usman Khawaja spilled a similarly reflex slips chance that flew from Nathan Ellis's attempted cut against Swepson only to spring cat-like to his left and snare the rebound before it hit the turf.

Khawaja is listed to bat at number four in a daunting Queensland that features Test players Joe Burns (six not out in an unbroken opening stand with Bryce Street) and Marnus Labuschagne with ex-Test opener Matthew Renshaw returning to the Bulls line-up in the middle-order.

Tasmania will look to their experienced new ball duo in concert with exciting young quicks Ellis and Riley Meredith to try and blunt the Bulls' batting strength with the parklands pitch expected to quicken up. 

Queensland XI: Joe Burns, Bryce Street, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja (c), Matt Renshaw, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Jack Wildermuth, Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, Xavier Bartlett Mitchell Swepson

Tasmania XI: Jordan Silk, Alex Doolan, Charlie Wakim, Ben McDermott, Jake Doran, Tim Paine (c, wk), Beau Webster, Nathan Ellis, Peter Siddle, Jackson Bird, Riley Meredith