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Neser defies back spasms to flatten Blues

Queensland's strike bowler required painkillers and physiotherapy to stay on the park and dismantle NSW

Michael Neser overcame back spasms in a devastating opening-day bowling performance in the Marsh Sheffield Shield final, but Queensland's star fast bowler has his sights set on even more cricket in the coming months.

The 31-year-old, with help from new-ball partner Jack Wildermuth, shredded the Blues' youthful batting line up on Wednesday as he claimed his fifth first-class five-wicket haul in the biggest game of the Shield season.

Presented with a seaming Allan Border Field pitch Queensland might have bowled first on had they won the toss, Neser was in his element as he moved the ball with supreme skill and showed the parochial Brisbane crowd why many believe a Test debut is only a matter of time.

But it was not all smooth sailing for him on Wednesday. 

"I was coming off (at the lunch break) and I just started to have a little bit of a spasm," a smiling Neser told reporters at stumps.

"I just got the physio to go through it and get ready for the next spell. A couple of painkillers and a good stretch, a good massage, so it (the spasms) ended up coming out."

Fabulous five for Bulls gun Neser

Having clean bowled opener Matthew Gilkes in the opening session, Neser then grabbed two wickets in two overs after lunch to spark a match-turning collapse of 7-76.

He also outfoxed aggressive youngster Jason Sangha, who had creamed four boundaries and upped the pace of play with 20 off his first 18 balls before top-edging a Neser short ball to offer a simple return catch.

The South African-born quick then completed his first five-for of the season with the wickets of Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood, the latter to a soaring catch from Marnus Labuschagne at mid-off.

Returning Wildermuth takes timely four

Neser admitted he had taken note of the pre-match build-up that had recognised the strength of New South Wales' bowlers over the Neser and Mitchell Swepson-led Queensland attack.

"There was a lot of talk about them but I think we held our own end (up) today," he said.

"It was pleasing not only from my perspective but as a bowling group, we did what we set out to do.

"It did help there were a couple of loose shots from them, but we got those results from bowling good lines and lengths."

The likes of Mitchell Starc and Sean Abbott conceded in the lead-in to the final domestic game of the season that they were looking forward to a deserved break.

Yet Neser can hardly wait for his next challenge.

He will join Bulls teammate Labuschagne in the United Kingdom to play for county side Glamorgan during the northern summer.

The scarcity of Test cricket for Australia – their four Tests against India last summer are the only long-form games they have played since the beginning of the pandemic and they have no more scheduled before next home season – has been a cruel blow for a bowler in the prime years of his career.

And having missed three Shield games with groin and hamstring injuries this season, Neser says that only increases the importance of the ongoing five-day decider.

"This is the third time I've been in a final so I've done it before, but it's great exposure I guess," said Neser, who played in the Bulls' 2013-14 final defeat before winning his first title in 2017-18. "I love playing in big scenarios like this.

"Also going to county cricket soon so hopefully I can carry this form into the county season.

"To be honest I haven't actually played that much cricket because I was injured early on (in the season) so I'm actually looking forward to stringing some games together and getting some match fitness going.

"I love playing cricket so any chance I get to play cricket, I'll pounce on it."

2021 Marsh Sheffield Shield final

Queensland v NSW Blues at Allan Border Field in Brisbane, April 15-19. Play begins each morning at 9.30am AEST

Queensland squad: Usman Khawaja (c), Xavier Bartlett, Joe Burns, Brendan Doggett, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Bryce Street, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth

NSW squad: Sean Abbott, Harry Conway, Trent Copeland, Jack Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Josh Hazlewood, Lachlan Hearne, Baxter Holt, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Peter Nevill, Kurtis Patterson, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Mitchell Starc

The 2021 Marsh Sheffield Shield final will be broadcast LIVE in Australia on Foxtel & Kayo Sports. ABC Grandstand's live radio coverage will also be available on cricket.com.au & the CA Live app. Viewers in NZ can watch via Sky Sport, while fans in other countries can stream via Facebook HERE