Swing king stars with Duke in hand
WITH barely a ripple of fuss or fanfare, Michael Neser has become Queensland cricket’s Duke of Hazzard.
The understated South Africanborn all- rounder has been a key man in powering a young Queensland Bulls side to Friday’s Sheffield Shield final against Tasmania at Allan Border Field.
Neser has taken 37 wickets at 19.7 for the Bulls with his crafty swing bowling reaping 22 wickets in five games after Christmas when the competition switched from the Kookaburra to the more swing- friendly English Duke ball.
“I love the Duke ball — as a swing bowler it has helped me a bit,’’ said Neser, who sits third on the Shield wicket- takers list this year behind Victorian duo Chris Tremain ( 51) and Scott Boland ( 38).
“It provides an even contest, too. Sometimes I feel the Kookaburras can become a bit soft and it becomes a one- sided affair but the Dukes keep giving you the day.’’
Had his life taken a different course Neser might well have been playing in this week’s third Test in Cape Town for South Africa as the all- rounder they are craving for but cannot find.
Pretoria- born Neser moved to the Gold Coast with his family when he was 10.
He is shooting for his second title of the summer after being part of Jason Gillespie’s Adelaide Strikers outfit who won the Big Bash. something throughout