Ian Healy Picks His Choice Between Neser And Hazlewood For The Fourth Ashes 2023 Test: The ongoing Ashes series of 2023 experienced a thrilling twist as England clinched a narrow three-wicket victory against Australia in the third Test. Despite this defeat, Australia still maintains a 2-1 lead, keeping them tantalizingly close to retaining the prestigious Ashes trophy.
England owes its triumph to star seamer Mark Wood, who played an integral role in the match. Wood bagged a five-wicket haul in the first innings and claimed three more in the second innings of the Headingley Test. His bowling performance, coupled with his useful contributions of 24 and 16 runs with the bat, were instrumental in England’s win.
Wood’s spectacular performance sparked a debate regarding the inclusion of Australian all-rounder Michael Neser in the Aussie team’s playing XI for the upcoming fourth Test. There’s a belief that Neser could replicate Wood’s dual role for Australia, bolstering both the bowling and the batting lineup.
Ian Healy Picks His Choice Between Neser And Hazlewood For The Fourth Ashes 2023 Test
Worth noting is Neser’s red-hot form in the recent County Division 2 match, where he smashed an unbeaten 176 for Glamorgan against Leicestershire. This performance marked his second consecutive century in the tournament, while his bowling prowess was also evident with 19 wickets at an average of 25.63.
Despite the clamour for Neser’s selection for the fourth Ashes Test, former Australian cricketer Ian Healy suggests otherwise. He regards Josh Hazlewood as a superior option for the Manchester Test but concedes that Neser might be a worthy addition for the fifth and final match. Healy appreciates Neser’s skills and emphasizes how the all-rounder could strengthen the Australian batting order.
Healy, during an interaction with SENQ Breakfast, remarked, “I think he might be a fifth Test (option) if there’s a breakdown in the fourth. I think (Josh) Hazlewood will go in and probably deserves to go in now that he’s back on the field for Boland. If something happens then or someone needs a rest, I think he (Neser) will probably leapfrog Boland back into the fifth Test.”
He further praised Neser’s form and pointed out how his inclusion would mean a shorter tail for Australia. He remarked, “It’s good to be in good form. It means they’d have a short tail. They (Neser, Starc, and Cummins) are good batsmen, a long tail is four batsmen that don’t bat that well. I’m not sure whether they (the current tail) enjoy batting against Mark Wood. It can be (hard), so we might need some batting.”
This latest development adds an interesting dimension to the ongoing Ashes series, keeping fans on their toes regarding team strategies and player selections.
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