Overview
- Michael Neser suffered a right-calf strain while training with the Test squad in Brisbane on Wednesday and Cricket Australia confirmed he was omitted from the 13-player squad for the Darwin Test.
- Team medical staff say the injury will prevent Neser from training or playing for several weeks and Cricket Australia has not yet named a direct replacement for the squad.
- Neser’s absence removes a recent in-form option—he took 15 wickets at 19.93 in three Tests against England, including a five‑for at the Gabba—reducing depth in Australia’s pace resources.
- Australia’s named squad for the Bangladesh Tests includes Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland, and coach Andrew McDonald said wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis’s brief back spasm is not expected to rule him out.
- Selectors now face short-term cover decisions for the Darwin Tests and must manage workloads for an ageing frontline pace group while Neser targets a return for the South Africa tour later this year, with fringe options such as Brendan Doggett mentioned in reports.