Cricket Australia confirmed that Michael Neser will be replacing Pat Cummins in the second Ashes Test that kicks off on Thursday. The Australian Test captain was deemed a close contact of a COVID-19 positive person. 

“Australian captain Pat Cummins has been deemed a close contact of a person who received a positive Covid-19 test last night and is unavailable to play in the second Vodafone #Ashes Test. We anticipate that he will be available to play in the third Test at the MCG in Melbourne,” Cricket Australia tweeted, adding that Nasser will replace the pacer and Steve Smith will lead the side. 

Who is Michael Neser?

Michael Neser was born in South Africa and shifted base to  Australia, with his family when he was 10. The bowling all-rounder represents Queensland at the domestic level. 

Neser, 31, plays for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League. His performance in the Australian competition attracted RCB and he was drafted in to play the IPL in the 2013 season but played only game after conceding 62 runs in his four overs.

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It was after a disappointing 2016/17 , Neser delivered a 39-wicket Sheffield Shield season and followed it up with 33 scalps in the next one. He made his ODI debut in 2018. 

In 2020, Neser was named in Australia’s Test squad vs India and then against South Africa the following year. 

However, he was awarded a debut only after Pat Cummins was ruled out of the second Ashes Test. 

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Cricket Australia said South Australia (state) Health confirmed that Cummins was a close contact and will be required to isolate for seven days. It said Cummins should be available for the third test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground starting December 26.

It will be Smith’s first appearance as captain since the Cape Town, South Africa ball-tampering scandal in 2018 which cost him the captaincy and a subsequent two-year leadership ban as well as a 12-month suspension from representing Australia.