Australia A’s Michael Neser put on an impressive performance against India A in the second unofficial Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, only to be struck by injury midway through his fiery spell. The seamer made an instant impact with the ball, reducing India A to a precarious 4-0 within the first three overs of the day. His exceptional opening spell was capped by a sensational double-wicket maiden, taking the wickets of Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan in quick succession. Following that, Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed cheaply, leaving India A in deep trouble early in their innings.

Neser’s brilliant spell derailed by injury

However, in the midst of his remarkable performance, disaster struck. After sending down just 12 deliveries in his 13th over, Neser felt discomfort in his left hamstring. Cricket Australia confirmed that he would not take any further part in the game. The injury cut short a blistering performance that had put India A on the backfoot, leaving Australia A in a strong position.

Can Neser recover in time for Border-Gavaskar trophy?

Despite the early injury, there remains hope for Neser’s participation in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It is highly unlikely that he will feature in the series opener in Perth, as the gap between the first and second Tests is just 10 days. However, this short recovery window could allow Neser to recover and be available for the remainder of the series. Furthermore, his inclusion could help manage the workload of Australia’s key pacers like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.

This is not the first time Neser has struggled with injury. A similar issue occurred during his last Sheffield Shield appearance, leading to his absence from a One-Day Cup match soon after. At the time, he attributed the discomfort to running on an outfield made harder by extra sand due to the Australian Football season. His claims were supported by fellow bowlers Mitchell Starc and Sean Abbott, both of whom have faced similar issues with cramps and heavy legs.

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Despite the injury setback, Australia A finished Day 1 on top, dismissing India A for just 161 runs. The early breakthroughs from Neser, though cut short, were pivotal in the collapse of India A's top order. In response, Australia A had some early setbacks with the dismissals of Nathan McSweeney and Cameron Bancroft, but they were still in a strong position, ending the day 108 runs behind with eight wickets in hand.

While Michael Neser’s injury is a blow to Australia A's progress in the second unofficial Test, the team remains hopeful that he will recover in time for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His superb performance against India A showcased his potential to be a key player in Australia’s fast-bowling attack. With a 10-day gap before the second Test, there’s a possibility that Neser could return, ensuring his place in the squad to help Australia compete at the highest level. In the meantime, Australia A will look to capitalize on their strong position and complete a dominant performance against India A.