3 reasons why Australia dropping Scott Boland for BGT 2024-25 3rd Test is the wrong move
Australia have named their XI for the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India and fast bowler Scott Boland will miss out after the return of Josh Hazlewood. Australia revealed the XI a day before the start of the third Test, with only one change from the second Test in Adelaide.
Josh Hazlewood suffered a side strain and was forced to miss the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. However, he has recovered in time and will be out in the park for a very important World Test Championship (WTC) encounter at the iconic Gabba in Brisbane. Scott Boland, who bowled quite beautifully in the previous Test, will unfortunately have to sit out.
“ Josh comes back in, had no hiccups. Had a really good bowl yesterday, had another good bowl in Adelaide a few days previous. Him and the medical team are super confident." Cummins was quoted as saying by reporters in Brisbane ahead of the third Test (via ICC).
Cummins was of the opinion that it was very tough to leave out Boland from the playing XI after a top-class showing with the pink ball. However, he feels that the medium pacer will have a role to play in the remainder of the series. With workload management being an essential part of their fast-bowling cartel, it remains to be seen whether Boland does get an opportunity in the 4th and the 5th Test.
"It's tough, he (Boland) was fantastic in Adelaide. He's unfortunately spent a fair bit of time on the bench over the past 18 months. And whenever he's played, he's been fantastic. A shame for Scotty, but still a fair bit to play out this series. I would be surprised if he doesn't get another crack at some point,” Cummins quipped.
Boland could have been a handful in the third Test. Let us now have a look at three reasons why Australia dropping Scott Boland for the third Test is the wrong move:
#1 Man in form with a brilliant performance in Adelaide
Scott Boland was at his immaculate best during the second Test in Adelaide and made the pink ball talk right from the word go. He was unlucky to have bowled a no-ball off his very first ball of the Test as he nicked off KL Rahul. He found the outside edge of Rahul yet again but was dropped by Usman Khawaja at first slip.
He trapped Shubman Gill right in front of the stumps with an inswinger and troubled Rohit Sharma with exceptional line and lengths. Boland bagged two crucial wickets in the first innings and continued his superb work in the second essay as well. It was again the first ball from Boland which induced the outside of Yashasvi Jaiswal and this time he didn't overstep.
He then nicked off Virat Kohli with an away swinger before finishing the Indian innings with the wicket of Mohammad Siraj. For someone who troubled the Indian batters consistently during the second Test, it might not be the wisest of decisions to replace him in the third Test.
#2 Nathan Lyon has hardly made an impact in the series so far
While there is certainly no doubt about the fact that Nathan Lyon is one of the finest spinners in world cricket, it is also a fact that he has failed to make any significant impact in the first two Tests so far. The Indian batters have attacked him and haven't really allowed him to settle.
Hence an all-pace attack could have been a viable option for the second Test. Scott Boland hasn't played too many matches for Australia but whenever he has got an opportunity, he has never failed to make an impact.
He troubled the Indian batting line-up with his consistent line and length and ability to shape the ball both ways during the 2023 WTC final so it would have been a difficult proposition for India to counter him. A four-pace attack could have spelt doom for India in the second Test.
#3 Hazlewood and Boland bowling in tandem could have troubled India
The Australian pace attack has all the bases covered, especially with a variety which hardly any team can boast of. Mitchell Starc with the new ball is a lethal option while Josh Hazlewood can keep hitting the lengths consistently for a long period of time to get his rewards.
Pat Cummins generally comes in as the first change and keeps testing batters with his pace and extra bounce. Boland could have been a perfect hit in the XI especially with Hazlewood around. Both bowling in tandem and hitting the same lengths for a consistent period of time could have spelt doom for India.