Surrey terminate Michael Neser contract amid continued County Championship uncertainty

The Australian seamer had been set to join up with the Oval side for the first half of the 2020 campaign before the coronavirus outbreak

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• Majority of county cricketers set to be furloughed in week season was meant to begin

Surrey have cancelled the contract of overseas signing Michael Neser owing to the continued uncertainty surrounding the County Championship season.

Queensland seamer Neser had been due to feature for the Oval county for the first half of this year's red-ball summer after the club announced his signature in October, however no fixtures will now take place before the end of May under ECB measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

While Neser's stay with the club had been set to run until July, no fewer than six of their early season fixtures are affected by the ECB's decision to postpone the start of the campaign, and the Championship is understood to be in line for significant cutbacks or complete removal under the board's contingency plans for a shortened season.

Alec Stewart, Surrey's director of cricket, said: "Given the testing times we find ourselves in, I would like to thank Michael Neser and his management company for their total understanding of the current situation and full agreement of this decision,

"The wider issues the sport is facing is paramount and it was refreshing to know Michael and his representatives are looking at the bigger picture in this sensible and responsible way."

The 30-year-old was a member of Australia's 17-man squad for last summer's Ashes but was the only player from the touring party not to get an outing during the drawn Test series.

Compatriot D'Arcy Short and Pakistan spinner Shadab Khan have been signed by the county for the T20 Blast, which may still be able to commence on May 28, leaving Neser without any white-ball cricket under the terms of his initial deal.

The Cricketer expects the majority of counties to announce furloughs of playing and coaching staff this week as they look to cut costs immediately in light of the pandemic situation, with Yorkshire yesterday having become the first county to officially confirm this news.