Strong domestic numbers set up Michael Neser for dream debut

Michael Neser, who on Monday 28 May got a maiden call-up to Australia's one-day international squad for the tour of England, thought his dream of making it to the national side had passed him by, before he put together strong performances in the last two domestic seasons to push himself into contention.

Neser was named as a last-minute replacement for the injured Josh Hazlewood for the five ODIs against England.

"It definitely passed my mind at one stage, I thought I wouldn’t get a go," Neser, 28, said before his departure.

"But stringing a couple of good seasons, the last two years, I thought it was on the cards.

"I just kept doing the hard work and hopefully it’s going to pay off and I play a game for Australia."

Neser, who has 527 runs and 41 wickets in 38 List A games, begun the 2017-18 season with a 50-over century for Queensland against Western Australia and followed it up with key performances in the Big Bash League for Adelaide Strikers.

He then capped the season off by picking up 39 first-class wickets for Queensland in their victorious Sheffield Shield campaign, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

The bowling all-rounder was born in Pretoria, South Africa, but moved to Gold Coast, Australia, when he was 10. He still has family in South Africa, though, and they were delighted at the news of his selection.

"Mum was through the roof. She was crying over the phone last night, just tears of joy," he said.

"I’ve got a loving family who’s supported me throughout my life and I’m sure they’ll support me even though they’re South African, they’ll still support me on the field playing for Australia."