Scott Boland has made his intentions clear, saying he wants to feature in every Test for Australia despite acknowledging that opportunities could become limited as he gets older. The fast bowler made the most of his selection in the ongoing second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha, claiming four wickets to put Australia in a strong position despite the rain interruptions.
Australia entered the match with a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after securing a 214-run victory in Durban. With cloudy conditions and rain expected to affect the game, the visitors opted for Boland ahead of off-spinner Nathan Lyon. However, Josh Hazlewood’s illness on the second day left Australia without another frontline fast bowler during a session that was reduced to just 30 overs.
Boland stepped up in Hazlewood’s absence, finishing the day with figures of 4/31 as South Africa ended at 97/5. His performance further highlighted his ability to make an immediate impact whenever Australia give him an opportunity.
Boland began making inroads on the opening day, dismissing Aiden Markram and David Bedingham in consecutive deliveries. Both batters fell while attempting shots away from their bodies, underlining the pressure Boland’s accuracy and movement can create.
The fast bowler continued in the same vein on the second day, dismissing Marques Ackerman with his seventh delivery of the afternoon. Bowling from around the wicket, Boland drew the batter into a drive, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey completing the catch.
Mitchell Starc then dismissed Matthew Breetzke to leave South Africa struggling at 40/4. Ryan Rickelton, who was dropped by Marnus Labuschagne on 26, attempted to rebuild the innings alongside Temba Bavuma. However, Boland eventually found Rickelton’s edge, with Matt Renshaw taking a low, one-handed catch at slip.
South Africa batting coach Ashwell Prince also praised Boland’s consistency, comparing him to former Proteas fast bowler Vernon Philander.
“Scott reminds me a little bit of someone like Vernon Philander. He doesn’t miss his spot often,” Prince was quoted as saying by Cricket News.
Prince also pointed out that Boland’s height allows him to consistently extract bounce and keep the ball around the top of the stumps, making him difficult to counter.
Scott Boland admits time could be running out but wants to play every Test
Boland is Australia’s oldest specialist fast bowler to feature in a Test since Ray Lindwall in 1960. Despite making his debut against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 2021-22 Ashes, he has played only 20 Tests for Australia.
His limited appearances have largely been a consequence of Australia’s depth in the fast-bowling department, with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood often occupying the frontline positions.
Boland was informed only on the morning of the ongoing Test that he would be playing. However, he needed just six deliveries to feel comfortable ahead of the match. He had also bowled around 10 overs during centre-wicket training three days earlier, exceeding his planned workload to make up for a lack of match practice.
Acknowledging that his opportunities might become fewer with age, Boland admitted that he understands the situation but remains eager to contribute whenever selected.
“I’m not like, 25 [years old], so I know that time’s probably running out a little bit,” he said.
He further explained that Australia’s busy Test schedule over the next year had given him confidence that he would get opportunities to play.
“But we’ve got so many Tests over the next 12 months that I knew I was going to play a part somewhere.”
Despite recognising that playing every match might not be realistic, Boland made it clear that he wants to remain available and ready whenever the selectors turn to him.
“I want to play every Test, but I probably know that’s not 100% realistic, so I just want to be ready for whenever I get an opportunity and then trying to get back into the game straight away.”
