There were calls to build a statue of Scott Boland after his Ashes heroics — but the reality is he may never play another Test match.
Scott Boland could be dropped for the next Ashes Test despite earning player of the match honours for his MCG heroics on what turned out to be the final day of the Boxing Day Test.
Australia’s latest debutant destroyed England’s lower and middle order on Tuesday, finishing with the astonishing second innings figures of 6/7 from just four overs as Australia wrapped up the series 3-0 with a crushing victory by an innings and 14 runs.
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Boland ended with match figures of 7/55 to go with two catches and cemented himself as Australian cricket’s newest cult hero.
But fans may have to wait before they get another chance to cheer for the fast bowler again in the baggy green, as he faces missing out on the starting XI for the next Test in Sydney, scheduled to start on January 5.
Josh Hazlewood has missed the past two Tests with injury but according to reports, is expected to be fit for the clash at the SCG. That would allow Australia to pick its first-choice pace attack of Hazlewood, captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc — who has been exceptional this summer after copping criticism before the series started.
When Hazlewood was injured in Adelaide and Cummins ruled out because of Covid complications, Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson were brought into the side. Richardson took five wickets in the second innings in South Australia but made way for Boland — an MCG specialist with a stunning first-class record at the ground — as the selectors took a cautious approach with a young quick who’s dealt with his fair share of injuries.
After a lengthy rest following the second Test, Richardson will be available to regain his place in the fast bowling queue as next cab off the rank beind the “big three”. That, combined with reports Hazlewood will be fit and firing, mean Boland may need to while a while before adding to his solitary Test match.
“I’m not sure. I haven’t looked that far ahead to be honest,” Boland told reporters when asked about his prospects of playing in Sydney.
“I know Josh is probably back, Jhye might be back as well so we’ll just wait and see what happens with selection.”
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden told Channel 7: “He’ll never buy a beer again in his life and he may well not play again for a while because of upcoming selection possibilities with our other legend Josh Hazlewood.
“It’ll be a tough call but it’ll be, I think, a unanimous call that Josh will take his place.”
Ex-Aussie captain Ricky Ponting also said the Boxing Day thrashing “could conceivably be the last Test that he (Boland) plays”.
“It’s staggering to think. He’s almost 33, he’s just taken 6/7. Hoff (Hazlewood) has got to come back, Jhye’s probably ahead of him in the pecking order as well,” Ponting told cricket.com.au.
“If there’s any worry at all with (Hazlewood) – which one do they pick out of Richardson and Boland? That’s going to be the big selection point I think.
“If Hoff’s not available, I think you’ve got to go back to Jhye. In the pecking order of things, he was selected before Boland for Adelaide — I think that’s the fair thing to do.
“It wasn’t like Jhye bowled badly in Adelaide either, he got five wickets in the second innings. On the pecking order it probably deserves to be Jhye, but it would be harsh on Scotty.”
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