Due to a side strain injury, Australian fast bowler Michael Neser has been omitted from the 18-member team picked to travel to Pakistan for the forthcoming bilateral series, Cricket Australia (CA) said Wednesday.
The CA confirmed in a statement that the Queensland speedster, who sustained the injury earlier this week, has been replaced in the team by uncapped Mark Steketee.
Brendan Doggett, another uncapped paceman, has been nominated as a standby for the series.
A scan test revealed Neser’s damage. However, there is no indication of his return to the team, since his recuperation might take up to a month owing to the severity of the injury.
According to Australian media reports, the bowler was dragged off the field during a one-day match won by New South Wales at the Gabba on Monday night. He was only able to bowl twice before leaving the field.
Neser, who made his Test debut against England in December, has bowled only five times in 2022 games after spending the whole of January with the national team.
For the first time in almost 24 years, Australia’s Pat Cummins-led squad will travel to Pakistan for three Tests, three One-Day Internationals, and one Twenty20 International, beginning March 4 in Rawalpindi.
It’s worth noting that the Australian selectors had previously opted to rest another Test fast bowler, Jhye Richardson, for the Pakistan visit, despite his performance.