"Someone I think we can get on top of pretty early" - Scott Boland on KL Rahul ahead of IND A vs AUS A 2024 2nd four-day match
Australia A seamer Scott Boland hopes to keep the pressure intact on KL Rahul ahead of the second four-day match against India A, set to begin on November 7 in Melbourne. The right-arm seamer recalled bowling to Rahul during Australia's Test tour of India last year.
Rahul, along with wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, flew to Australia early to be part of the second four-day game against Australia A. The right-hander struggled in the home Test season, registering a solitary half-century. He was also dropped after the first Test against New Zealand following scores of 0 and 12.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Boland acknowledged Rahul as a world-class player, but reckoned that Australia can get on top of him. As quoted by ESPNcricinfo, he said:
"I was lucky to bowl to him in a Test over in India a couple of years ago but it'll be nice to play against him in our backyard. He's a world-class player but someone I think we can get on top of pretty early and hopefully stay on top of him for the majority of the summer."
The Victorian didn't play the first game between Australia A and India A, as he was busy with the Sheffield fixture against New South Wales. The 35-year-old managed to dismiss Steve Smith and pick three wickets in Victoria's win.
"Felt like a long six months between games" - Scott Boland on being out with injury
Boland went on to reflect on his extended time away from the game after an injury cut short his time with Durham last season. He lauded the physios at Cricket Victoria for getting him up to speed quickly, saying in the same interview:
"It felt like a long six months between games. Remember being out on the ground in the Shield game and was just really happy to be back playing cricket. Haven't had too many breaks for injury throughout my career so was different going through all the rehab. Luckily [we've] got really good physios and support staff at Cricket Victoria. So lucky I could lean on them, because few times I was like, '[are] any of these things getting better? But it's all come good now and feeling really good."
The veteran is likely to get a chance this summer after not playing any Test in the previous one.