Shield champ Neser fires on home County debut

Michael Neser picked up three wickets in the first spell of his home debut for Glamorgan overnight as the hosts had Yorkshire 4-69 in reply to their 149 before rain ended day two in Cardiff.

A month on from tasting his Marsh Sheffield Shield glory with Queensland, Neser was showing off his fast-bowling wares in conditions made to order for the swing bowler, who captured wickets in his first, fourth and seventh overs.

The first two of those – caught at forward square and third man respectively – he described as "cheap" before he trapped Harry Brook plumb lbw for 11, finishing with 3-15 from seven overs with three maidens.

Fellow Australian Michael Hogan took the other wicket to fall, before England Test skipper Joe Root (34no) teamed up with Dom Bess (16no) to ensure Yorkshire went to stumps without the loss of further wickets.

"There was a bit of assistance in the wicket, and it was nice to get out there and play a home game," Neser said. "Certainly when the (clouds came) overhead the ball started doing a bit more, and every now and then one would nip quite a bit, but there were still opportunities to score.

"I still think it's not a bad wicket. It might dry out a little bit … but at this stage it's looking like a low-scoring affair."

Neser also contributed a handy 24 from number eight after star Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne was out for 10.

Elsewhere among the Australian contingent, Travis Head made 20 for Sussex, while Billy Stanlake took 2-91 from 17 overs against Essex on his Derbyshire debut, including the wicket of Alastair Cook (58) before England rep Dan Lawrence plundered the attack to all parts in making 152no from 133 balls amid 3-412 declared.

Click here to donate to UNICEF's India COVID-19 Crisis Appeal