Michael Neser ruled out of Bangladesh Tests with calf strain

Australian fast bowler Michael Neser has sustained a strain in his right calf muscle which will prevent him from training or playing for several weeks. Neser has been training with the Australian squad in Brisbane this month as a standby fast bowler for the historic two-match Test Series against Bangladesh. He will now set his sights on the tour of South Africa later this year. The Men in Yellow will play three ODIs in September and three Tests in October in the Rainbow nation against the Proteas. The red-ball series is highly-anticipated, as it will be a clash between the finalists of the previous edition of the World Test Championship (WTC).

Neser, 36, has played five Tests and four ODIs so far for Australia. In the red-ball format, he has bagged 22 wickets at an average of 18.91 and a strike rate of 35.36. His best figures of 5/42 came during the pin-ball Ashes Test against England at The Gabba in Brisbane in December last year. He has also fared decently with the bat, averaging 18.71 in the longest format of the game.

Neser played his most recent clash in an Australian jersey earlier this year during the Sydney Test against England at the Kennington Oval. He hasn't featured in a white-ball contest in international cricket since 2023, which was and ODI clash against South Africa.

Josh Inglis meanwhile was on track to be fit for the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin, although his prospects of selection appear low unless he is preferred over Cameron Green to bat at No.5. The wicketkeeper-batter suffered back spasms during an intra-squad match at Allan Border Field, though coach Andrew McDonald indicated the wicketkeeper-bat would likely be available for selection against Bangladesh.

"He's had a back flare up. He has had these from time to time. There'll be no issue, it'll just be letting it settle down and then getting him back into work," McDonald told cricket.com.au.

"We've got enough time. We'll probably be conservative on that, make sure that's right before you see him return into the nets and the preparation phase … there is no concern around whether he would be available or not," he added.