Neser’s Breakthrough Helps Australia Close In on Dominant Ashes Win
Alright, let me walk you through what has just unfolded in this dramatic fourth day of the second Ashes Test — and trust me, it was a day completely flipped on its head by grit, brilliance, and one unforgettable moment of athletic madness.
So, Australia is now just a handful of runs away from taking a 2-0 lead in the series, and a lot of that forward momentum came from someone who has been waiting patiently for his chance: Michael Neser. His performance today felt like a statement — calm, disciplined, and relentlessly effective. He delivered a career-best Test haul of 5-42, and you could really sense how much belief the selectors had placed in him. Every ball he bowled seemed to justify that faith. It wasn’t flashy fast-bowling chaos — it was smart, steady, tight Test-match bowling, backed by some seriously sharp fielding.
And speaking of fielding, the moment that will be replayed for years came from Steve Smith. England actually showed real resistance for a good chunk of the day. Ben Stokes, as he so often does, tried to strap the entire innings to his shoulders. He and Will Jacks built a partnership that slowed the Australian charge and forced the bowlers to work hard. It almost felt like England might drag the game into a tense final act.
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But then, it happened — Smith, positioned at slip, reacted to a ball that most players would have simply watched fly past. It was one of those catches where time seems to freeze. He stuck out a hand at the last possible moment, the ball clung to the fingertips, and in that instant England’s resistance was shattered. You could feel the energy shift immediately. That catch didn’t just remove Jacks — it triggered a collapse. England’s batting order, already fragile, unravelled in rapid, brutal fashion.
Alex Carey added to the spectacle with some brilliant work behind the stumps, contributing to that relentless Australian pressure that seemed to squeeze the fight out of every English batter who walked in.
Suddenly, Australia stood on the brink of victory, and England were left staring down a near-certain defeat. The story of the day wasn’t only about wickets and runs, though — it was about the sense of inevitability Australia created. Every time England tried to claw their way back, something extraordinary happened to push them further down.
And right at the centre of it all was Neser, finally getting the kind of headline day his patient career has deserved.
If Australia finishes this off tomorrow, the urn is already halfway packed in green and gold wrapping.
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