Scott Boland may be required to bowl in all five Ashes Tests this summer, a workload that will test his mental fortitude and physical stamina. But in promotion ahead of the series, he is already doing much of the heavy lifting.
The fast bowler and Gulidjan man was launching a partnership for the National Indigenous Cricket Championships with the Melbourne Cricket Club on Tuesday, but it was matters of the Commonwealth – and specifically a recent Stuart Broad sledge about what he believes is a weak Australian team – that was the focus of media in attendance.
“All the past players are going to come out and have their opinion, and they can do that,” the paceman said. “We’re just going to concentrate on playing our cricket.”
Boland has already had to fend off one metaphorical bouncer, from Mike Atherton last week. The former England captain said the Australian was a poor replacement for Pat Cummins, who will miss at least the first Test with a back complaint.
But rather than have the motivation of proving past or present English players of his quality after the 2023 Ashes – when his two wickets came at more than 100 runs each – Boland said he considers himself a “proud cricketer” and just wants to meet his own expectations.
“It’s not really me ‘showing my skills’ against them,” he said. “It’s probably more, I believe in my skills, so it’s just me wanting to put out a really good performance.”
Boland is likely to be a major player in the coming series starting in Perth on 21 November, following Cummins’ struggles with his back. Alongside Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood – who said this week he is prepared to play all five Tests – Boland will be a key part of the Australian attack.
The 36-year-old said on Tuesday he, like Hazlewood, “should” be able to play all five Tests, especially given there is more than a week’s break after the first two. “I’ve never had major injuries but these little niggles are popping up and I think I’m getting better at managing them as we go,” he said.
Boland declined to weigh into the competition for batting places in the Australian side, but said Sam Konstas – who he dismissed for a duck in a Sheffield Shield match last week – is still “finding his feet” in first class cricket. “He’ll find a way to come through, you can see how talented he is,” Boland said.
Although Boland has not yet won selection for Australia, he admitted his mind had wandered towards the first Test. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited by what’s coming up this summer,” he said. “There’s nothing better than being in the Australian squad for a Test summer like this.”
Steve Smith, meanwhile, has said he is primed to fill in as captain for the Ashes with Cummins a major doubt. “The team is better with (Cummins) in it,” Smith told reporters. “Hopefully he can get right and if he plays three or five Tests, as many as we can get out of him, it’s the best thing for the team.
“We’ll see what happens. Pat’s still got a few things that he can tick off. Obviously he said he’s unlikely for that first Test but you never know - he’s a healer, he gets well quickly.
“I’ve stood in a couple of times over the last few years. It’s nothing out of the ordinary. I know how the team operates, we’re in a good place, if it happens I’ll look forward to it.”
