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Just when the old enemy appeared on the cusp of saving their Ashes campaign and keeping the series alive, a moment of magic broke the gutsiest partnership of the summer.
And it was skipper Steve Smith and hometown hero Michael Neser who produced it, and triggered their country’s eight-wicket triumph to take a 2-0 series lead in Brisbane.
After England skipper Ben Stokes and bowling all-rounder Will Jacks combined for a 96-run stand across nearly 37 overs in a complete reversal of the ultra-aggressive Bazball that had drawn criticism, a probing Neser caught the outside edge.
Michael Neser claimed his maiden Test five-wicket haul at the Gabba.Credit: Getty Images
Smith was up to task, diving desperately to his left and clutching onto a remarkable slips catch to dismiss Jacks for 41.
“I was pretty happy with that one; I was a bit blindsided by [wicketkeeper] Alex [Carey] – low to my left, pink ball, under lights, the situation of the game, a huge partnership to break, I was pretty excited,” Smith said.
Only 16 balls later, Neser was at it again – wicketkeeper Alex Carey standing up to the stumps and latching onto a Stokes edge (50) to all but seal England’s fate.
“I know the role I play is very different to the other quicks, being a shorter bowler and maybe not as quick, but it’s a way for me to keep the batters on the crease and bring the stumps into play,” Neser said of Carey moving up off his bowling.
“The first time I did, I definitely did want to do it as a fast bowler. But Uzzie [Usman Khawaja] told me to put the ego aside because it’s beneficial.”
It was arguably the finest spell of the Queensland veteran’s career, one which finished with the wicket of Brydon Carse to claim his maiden Test five-wicket haul before Australia chased down the 65 runs needed to win.
His figures of 5-42 came having feared he would never get a chance to don the Baggy Green again.
“Last season when I thought I was bowling superbly, then … did my hammy [hamstring] I thought that could have been my chance. But I always dream about playing for Australis, something I live and breathe is cricket, so to be given another chance I’m very honoured,” Neser said.
“It was a long recovery, I think 12 weeks and I may have come back a week or two quicker than I should’ve. I probably wasn’t 100 per cent, but I chose not to go to county cricket in the off-season and focused on getting my body right.
“A big preseason did my wonders, I feel strong again and feel my hammy is back to where it was.”
Neser’s heroics came in front of 27,888 day four fans – who took the total attendance to 137,152, the second-highest total crowd at the Gabba, trailing only the five-day 2006 Ashes clash at the venue.
It happened on the last day of Test cricket at the stadium for at least two years, with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli revealing on Triple M one of the clashes against Bangladesh next summer would take place in Mackay.
There was even little fanfare regarding Neser’s call-up for just his third Test cap on his home Gabba deck, with spinner Nathan Lyon controversially omitted in favour of an all-pace attack.
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But Neser twice proved the circuit-breaker – claiming Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope, both caught-and-bowled, in day three’s evening session to end England’s promising start.
“It was pretty close between him and Nathan, we wanted something a little bit different in terms of changing the pace of the game and with him being able to bring the wicketkeeper up it was a similar role to what Nathan would play,” Smith said.
“It’s certainly nothing against Nathan, he’s a freak.”
The Bulls champion is unlikely to feature in the third Test, with Pat Cummins to make his comeback from a lumbar bone stress injury and Lyon expected to be recalled.
But this may not be the last time he is seen in Australian colours, with huge calendar for Test cricket looming.
From September 2026, Australia will play 20 Tests through to the end of the following July when the 2027 Ashes wraps up.
Steve Smith and Ben Stokes shake hands at the end of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba.Credit: Getty Images
By the time that series in England ends, Neser will be 37. However, his Queensland teammate Xavier Bartlett was left in awe when discussing his fellow Gold Coaster with this masthead at the start of the domestic season.
“He’s always very meticulous in the way he goes about the game. You come in and see him training every day, and just see the hunger he has to get better,” Bartlett said.
“His body is in really good nick, he’s always improving, and is someone I’ve looked up to for the last 10 years.”
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