Australia Roped In Lance Morris, and Micheal Neser as a Back-up For Captain Pat Cummins

West Indies Tour of Australia 2022: Western Australian Pacer Lance Morris alongside experienced campaigner Micheal Neser has been bolstered to the Australian squad for the second test against West Indies in Adelaide Oval. 

In what turned out to be a comprehensive victory, Australia defeated West Indies by 164 runs in the first Frank-Worrell Test in Optus Stadium, Perth. Marnus Labuschagne 204 (350) & 104 (110) was the leading man with the bat while Nathan Lyon 6/128 was the pick of the bowlers in Australia’s historic victory. 

After Marnus Labuschagne incorporated an immaculate 104 right at the stroke of lunch, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins declared Australia’s second innings. After declaring at lunch on day four, Pat Cummins was absent from the field due to a quadriceps strain.

In Cummins’ absence, Steve Smith was handed the captaincy while Scott Boland was named his substitute for the rest of the test match. Although Pat Cummins is confident to be available ahead of the second test, Australia has acquired the fastest bowler in the nation as a cover to the Australian captain. 

Lance Morris is the Quickest I Have Ever Seen: Matt Mason

The second day-night Test between Australia and the West Indies will take place in Adelaide, and the lineup would include seasoned pacer Michael Neser and Lance Morris.

Lance Morris more than often clicks 150 kph and is the Sheffield Shield competition’s leading wicket-taker this season for Western Australia.  

One of Australia’s most dependable players for more than ten years is Micheal Neser, who earned his Test debut for his nation against England in Adelaide last year.

Matt Mason, the Western Australian Coach also acknowledged Lance Morris’ pace and believes he is the quickest bowler he has ever seen. 

Mason said, “He’s right up there with the quickest I’ve ever seen. My mind goes back to a game last year in Tasmania. He hit 152km/h in his first over of the day, that’s an extreme pace. He generally averages around 145-147kmph which is as quick as any of the guys playing internationally anywhere in the world so he is right up there and he does it easily.” 

With 27 scalps in 5 encounters and a strike rate of 33.1, featuring match numbers of 9-82 against NSW, the 24-year-old Lance Morris is the highest wicket-taker for Western Australia this season in the Sheffield Shield. 

Before making his Sheffield Shield debut,  the right-arm-fast Lance Morris played for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League. In 2020–21, he claimed 20 first-class wickets.

“It was great sometimes watching him and Jhye Richardson go toe-to-toe at net practice when we had the speed gun out. You could see Jhye stick one down there at 145 and then Lance just crank one up at 147 just to let him know he’s around,” Mason added. 

The second Frank-Worrell test between Australia and West Indies will commence on December 8th and would be a day-night test at Adelaide Oval. Australia has never lost a day-night so far and they would want to preserve their winning streak.