Neser's four prompts another selection headache

Michael Neser has thrown his hat in the ring as the fifth fast bowler in Australia’s Ashes squad with a superb display of swing bowling on day one of an intra-squad match in Southampton.

Experienced pair Peter Siddle and Jackson Bird but appeared to be in the box seat for the role, until Neser was the pick of the bowlers on Tuesday at the Ageas Bowl, taking 4-18 from 10 overs as his side – the Hick XII – skittled the Haddin XII for just 105 inside 43 overs.

Among Neser's wickets were the presumptive Test opening combination of David Warner, brilliantly caught by a diving Matt Wade at cover, and Marcus Harris, who was trapped lbw for six.

He returned later to remove Pat Cummins and Mitch Starc, who each scored 14 in what was the equal second highest score of the innings behind Marnus Labuschagne's impressive 41.

The Queenslander uprooted the off-stump of Cummins with a dream delivery that committed the batsman forward, beat the outside edge of his front-foot defence and sent the woodwork flying.

Neser's performance has given the selectors another thing to ponder as they deliberate who will join, in all likelihood, the pace quartet of Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson for the Ashes.

Bird reminded selectors what he is capable of with 3-28 from 11 overs, dismissing the left-handed trio of Travis Head, Kurtis Patterson and Alex Carey as the first-change bowler.

And Siddle, who has excelled for Essex in Division One of the County Championship, claimed 3-30 in the afternoon session as his bowling unit reduced the Hick XII to 7-96 at stumps.

Image Id: B528978FBC0141C8A6E946E2BEE65F82 Image Caption: Peter Siddle celebrates the wicket of Australian captain Tim Paine // Getty

After a day where 17 wickets fell, Bird said the race for the fifth fast bowler position has become even tighter.

"Competition for spots is going to be really, really tough and you expect no less for the Australian team," Bird told reporters on Tuesday evening.

"I can't really control what else happens. I feel like I bowled reasonably well today which is good.

"They're a world-class bowling attack, the Haddin XII, and Peter Siddle was outstanding and so was Pat Cummins (3-30).”

What Neser lacks in experience compared to Bird and Siddle he makes up with his batting ability and could be a chance to make the Ashes as the squad's allrounder.

In last summer's Sheffield Shield competition, Neser posted five half-centuries and averaged 43.72 with blade in hand to go with his 33 wickets at 23.03.

Image Id: EE1F67B0BBAB43DC922CE27EC8013662 Image Caption: Neser looked comfortable with bat in hand throughout the Sheffield Shield // Getty

Neser's main rival for the allrounder spot – should the selectors opt to take one – is Mitch Marsh, who was out in the last over of the day on 29 having posted scores of 38 and 26 against the Lions.

No fast bowler bowled more than Neser's 73 overs on the preceding Australia A tour of England, a campaign which saw him play in five of the seven matches.

It hasn't been the smoothest tour for Neser, who took some time to find his rhythm in English conditions before a slight left ankle niggle restricted him to just seven overs in the first innings against the England Lions in Canterbury.

However, the 29-year-old proved to be a quick healer, returning to bowl on the final day where he ran through the Lions top order with a spell of 3-11 in 14 balls, with all three wickets caught by gloveman Tim Paine.

Following the carnage on day one, Neser, Bird and the other Ashes hopefuls will get another chance to impress on Friday.

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Tour match: Hick XII v Haddin XII, July 23-26

First Test: Edgbaston, August 1-5

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: Lord's, August 14-18

Third Test: Headingley, August 22-26

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: Old Trafford, September 4-8

Fifth Test: The Oval, September 12-16