Scott Boland will retain his place in the Australian team for the first Test against South Africa at the Gabba, edging out Queenslander Michael Neser for the third fast bowler’s spot.
Coach and selector Andrew McDonald on Tuesday reinforced the current pecking order of fast bowlers by revealing Boland would be preferred to Neser for the series opener, beginning on Saturday.
“That’s the running line, and he’s done nothing wrong,” McDonald said of Boland as captain Pat Cummins returns to the team after missing the second Test against the West Indies in Adelaide with a minor quad strain.
“His record is amazing at the moment, so he’ll take his place and the assumption is that Pat does play. So you’ve got Cummins, [Mitchell] Starc and Boland, with [Cameron] Green and [Nathan] Lyon to support around that.”
Squad member Boland was called in to replace Cummins in the XI in Adelaide but concerns around the short three-day break between the Perth and Adelaide Tests saw Neser and West Australian tearaway Lance Morris added to the squad.
Neser came into the side when Josh Hazlewood was a late withdrawal because of a side strain which has also kept him out of the first Test against South Africa. He and Morris were retained in what is now a 14-man squad.
Scott Boland celebrates the wicket of Shamarh Brooks in the second Test against West Indies.Credit:Getty
Australia have five Tests in 40 days after three months of white-ball cricket, prompting McDonald to describe the schedule as “arduous.”
“We’ve already seen we’ve had some casualties early on in the summer,” he said. “But it’s good to see Patty Cummins is shaping up really well for the Gabba Test match, so that’s one coming back online and Josh is obviously undertaking his rehab at the moment. So hopefully, he’s ready for Melbourne.”
Australia used six fast bowlers during the Ashes last season, including Neser, whose only previous Test was also an injury replacement for the Adelaide last summer.
This season Australia have already used five pacemen, while the West Indies were forced to make three bowling changes between the first and second Test because of injuries.
“It’s just a reality, the games keep coming,” McDonald said. “Last year it was Covid and injuries as well, so it wasn’t by design nor has it been this early in the summer.
“It’s something that is forced upon us … it’s just the short turnarounds, the nature of it. It’s just a huge demand.”
One fast bowler who continues to stand up is Mitchell Starc, 32, who was the only paceman to play every Test last summer and may be again this summer.
The big left-armer is four wickets away from becoming only the seventh Australian to claim 300 Test wickets.
“All the numbers suggest he’s improving, and that’s great with age,” McDonald said. “His accuracy, his ability to shift [move] the ball when he needs to.
“He’s evolving as he goes along and like all great champions do, he’s embarking on 300 Test wickets which will put him down among the greats. And so he should be.”
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
