Star all-rounder Michael Neser has withdrawn from Queensland’s Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania mid-innings and returned home for personal reasons.
The Test contender was unbeaten on 51 at the end of the first day of the Shield clash in Hobart but has left the match to return to Brisbane.
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After being promoted up the order to No. 5, Neser continued his strong form with another half-century but was retired out when Day 2 commenced, with Queensland collapsing from 3-293 to 7-326 at Bellerive Oval.
Queensland Cricket said the 33-year-old’s availability for the Bulls’ next games was unclear as it called for his privacy to be respected.
“Queensland Cricket has confirmed that Michael Neser has withdrawn from the Marsh Sheffield Shield game underway in Hobart and returned to Brisbane for personal reasons,” the statement on Friday read.
“Under match conditions, he will not be replaced in the match. QC will update his availability for coming matches in due course and requests that Michael’s privacy be respected during this time.”
Players can only be replaced in Australian domestic matches if they are concussed or called up for national duty midgame, as happened when Victorian duo James Pattinson and Marcus Stoinis were forced to leave a Shield game midway through to join the Australian squad in New Zealand during 2016.
Neser has scored 686 runs in his last six first-class matches including three centuries, which has put him firmly in contention against Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green for the No. 6 spot in the Test side.
His withdrawal will leave the Bulls to rely on Gurinder Sandhu, Mark Steketee and Jack Wildermuth as its three remaining pace options in Hobart, along with wrist spinner Mitch Swepson.
It comes as WA left-armer Joel Paris and Victorian quick Fergus O’Neill wreaked havoc in the morning sessions of their respective games.
Paris ripped through South Australia’s top order with four wickets to reduce them to 4-52 at the Adelaide Oval after commencing play at 0-27 in response to the Warriors’ 241.
Meanwhile at the MCG, NSW was left reeling at 3-7 after bowling Victoria out for 196 after Fergus O’Neill bowled Daniel Hughes and then removed Ryan Hackney and captain Moises Henriques with successive deliveries.
