‘Gives me goosebumps’: How Neser’s ‘dream came true’ in ‘good, honest’ MCG masterclass

When Michael Neser was dashing around the Gold Coast as a boy, his boyhood dream was to one day represent Australia in the Ashes in a Boxing Day Test. When the chance finally arrived on Thursday, he delivered a Christmas miracle.

It would be incredible to believe those dreams were anywhere near as wild as what his Boxing Day debut proved, with Neser topscoring for Australia and then rebounding to claim the most wickets for his nation in front of a record crowd of 94,199.

Watch The Ashes 2025/26 LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

“It is a dream come true. To be out here, it gives me goosebumps,” he told Fox Cricket.

Later when discussing an astonishing opening that saw 20 wickets fall on the first day at the MCG in an Ashes Test for the first time in 130 years, he expanded on those goosebumps.

At the start of this summer, his boyhood dream resembled a surf-washed shop in the backblocks of the Goldy, with Neser in the dotage of his career and pondering his future as his hopes of representing Australia again appeared dashed.

Fortune had failed him at the start of last summer when he injured a hamstring in November while considered a chance of featuring in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

But this summer fate has fallen his way due to injuries to champions including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon and Neser is enjoying a golden moment in his career.

After taking five wickets at the Gabba in the day-night Test earlier this month, he demonstrated his wares with both the bat and the ball in a stunning effort for Australia.

On a day where every batter faced a ball that had his name on it, the 35-year-old rode his luck with the bat to top score for Australia with 35 before falling to Josh Tongue.

He then starred when opening the bowling alongside Mitchell Starc, snaring 4-45 from 10 overs as Australia routed England for 110 on an extraordinary day.

“Cricket is a funny game,” he said.

“Going into the season, I didn’t know if I was going to be playing for Australia again, and to be in the position I am now, I’m very privileged.

“It’s unreal. I dreamt of this as a kid. Every Boxing Day I would wake up early and me and my brother would play backyard cricket for hours and come back in and watch cricket for the whole day.

“The whole day was just cricket for us and to be part of it, it’s a dream come true. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”

Former Australian star Mark Waugh is far from surprised the South African-born Queenslander has thrived this summer, noting he had demonstrated his class in domestic cricket for years before debuting for Australia against England in 2021.

“He’s going great. This sort of pitch suits him. (He is a) pitch up, seam bowler. It hasn’t swung much but he’s just used the pitch and kept the pressure on and hasn’t bowled any bad balls,” Waugh told foxsports.com.au.

“(It was) a good sort of workman like performance. Whenever he gets his chance, he’s put his hand up, and his 35 runs were pretty handy. He’s just a good, honest cricketer.”

Neser’s deeds underscore the depth of the Australian bowling attack, with he and Brendan Doggett performing well when called on as reserves for their country throughout the summer.

On an astonishing day, he and Starc led the hosts to a 42-run advantage at the end of the first innings, a lead extended further when Scott Boland edged a four on the final ball.

The fact 20 wickets have fallen has raised questions about the preparation of the pitch, but the experienced Neser is mindful that what unfolded on the first day may not follow this week.

He said the MCG pitch tended to get better as the match progressed and felt it was possible the Australians would return on Saturday to find it far friendlier to bat on.

“The ball definitely nipped around a bit there with the new rock, so it was just a matter of trying to find ways to put pressure back on their bowlers,” he said.

“(It was about) knowing that when we bowled, we had to just be patient and let the wicket do the work.

“(But) we know it can move real fast day one and two and then, once that wicket just … hardens up and dries out, it can be quite nice to bat on. So I don’t want to go into this tomorrow with a preconception that the wicket is going to be doing a lot, because it can (harden) and we just have to stick to our processes.”