Aussie all-rounder to make county debut
AUSTRALIAN all-rounder Michael Neser is set to make his Glamorgan debut against Lancashire in the LV= Insurance County Championship at Old Trafford today.
The 31-year-old arrived in Wales last week at the same time as fellow overseas star Marnus Labuschagne but was unable to play in the victory over Kent as he sought a return to full fitness following the long flight over from Australia.
Neser – pronounced Neessa – joins a long list of recent Queensland players who have represented Glamorgan and is looking forward to finally playing county cricket.
“I’ve been wanting to play county cricket for years and delighted to finally get my chance,” he told the Glamorgan website.
Neser has been a consistent performer with Queensland in the Sheffield Shield over recent years and in the latest edition took 18 wickets at 24.33, which included a five-wicket haul in the final.
Although conditions will be different from Australia, bowling in consistent areas will still form the basis of his game in the UK.
“County cricket is a different game from Sheffield Shield. Lines and length are probably have to alter a bit to suit these conditions.
“Hopefully, what I bring will be consistency. That’s what I’ve relied on over the last few years.
“I’ve transformed my game, almost like Peter Siddle, and turned myself into a line and length bowler and that’s my role. I’m not going to be a player I’m not.”
Neser will play today with Queensland team-mate Labuschagne as the club’s two overseas players, with Neser hoping he can hit the same heights as Labuschagne in 2019.
“Marnus transformed his game after the county stint with Glamorgan,” added Neser. “I still think he can take his game even further.
“He’s just continually learning and
works well with Matt Maynard, so hopefully I can do the same.”
Meanwhile, batsman Charlie Hemphrey’s contract with Glamorgan has been terminated by mutual consent.
Hemphrey joined Glamorgan in 2019 and had one year left on his current contract before the termination was agreed.
He played 13 first-class matches for the club, scoring 608 runs with five half-centuries and made eight List A appearances.
Director of cricket Mark Wallace said: “Charlie’s situation with his
England qualification has been well publicised.
“The incentives for fielding homequalified cricketers are now greater than ever and as a result we were open and honest with Charlie in telling him that it would have to be a consideration in selection.
“We’ve had some long conversations with Charlie to work out the best solution for everyone and finally agreed that we would shake hands on the rest of his contract with the club.
“Charlie was a very popular member of the squad and everyone at
Glamorgan wishes him and his family well for the future.”
Hemphrey said: “I’d like to thank Glamorgan for giving me the opportunity to play county cricket.
“I loved playing for the club, living in Wales and I couldn’t have asked for better team-mates.
“When the new regulations came in place this was always the likely outcome, but I’d like to thank the club for their support at a difficult time.
“I’ll be supporting the club from Brisbane and will always be a lifelong Glamorgan fan.”