I’m a better bowler now than I was back in Ashes 2023 – Scott Boland

I'm a better bowler now than I was back in Ashes 2023 – Scott Boland

Two years ago, when England and Australia last met in the Ashes, Scott Boland played just two of the five Tests and managed only two wickets. The 2-2 Ashes draw in England was dominated by three other Australian quicks – Mitchell Starc (23 wickets), Pat Cummins (18) and Josh Hazlewood (16). Since then, Boland has played four Tests and taken 27 wickets.

"I'd say so," Boland said, when asked if he was now a better bowler now than he was back in Ashes 2023. "Even though I'm getting older, I still think my skills are getting better. Even though I'm in the twilight of my career, I'm still learning about what's helping me and what's getting me able to perform at 100 per cent.

"I've thought about (the 2023 Ashes) a lot since it happened. I still think there were times in England when I bowled pretty well, I just didn't get a wicket. I'm a better bowler than I was back then and (upcoming Ashes) is going to be in conditions I know really well."

In a pace attack with a lot of experience and bowlers over the age of 30, Boland is still the oldest at 36. With that, comes the pressure of keeping fit and being ready for opportunities in a long and arduous series like the Ashes. Boland opined that he was up for such a task.

"Ronnie (head coach Andrew McDonald) sort of, not challenged me, but asked me… is there anything we can make a bit different to make sure my body's at a really high level the whole time? "I just want to keep going. Keep my body as good as I can for as long as I can."

For all his skill and grit, Boland's opportunities in Tests have been sporadic. In most conditions, he is jostling for a place in the side against the three stalwarts mentioned above and often filling in as back-up. However, his last Test appearance – in West Indies – came at the surprising expense of Nathan Lyon as Australia went with a four-pronged pace attack. That, though, is not something Boland expects to happen during the Ashes at home, even as he picked a hat-trick in that game. More so, with the Ashes starting at the Perth stadium – a venue where no bowler has taken more Test wickets than the off-spinner.

"I hope so [of playing in a four pacer attack again] – but probably not in Australia. Nathan's one of the best spin bowlers in the world, he can bowl in any conditions," Boland offered. "He's been the glue to our bowling line-up over the last few years. Then you'll probably see Greeny (Cameron Green) coming back (from back surgery) and bowling, so that probably hurts the chances of four quicks as well."

Being fit and available for a long series like this has often been down to how well the recovery goes, particularly for the fast bowlers. Boland welcomed the eight-day gap between the first two Ashes Tests.

"There's such good breaks in between the first two Tests (this summer) that it gives whoever plays an opportunity to really reset and freshen up, " he said. The break between the second and third Test is equally long with eight days but the turn around time between the third and fourth, and the fourth and fifth is only four days each. Boland looked back to a similar situation during the last Border-Gavaskar Test series, where only three days separated Day 5 of the Boxing Day game and Day 1 of the New Year's Test.

"Going from last year we had a three-day break in between (the final two Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests). We bowled the last session here in Melbourne, to bowling again the first session in Sydney.

"It's hard work and it probably does take you a session or two to get everything moving again as much as you try and… replicate match intensity. That's probably another thing I learned: I felt like I was ready going into the first morning, but I still felt really sore and tired," Boland said.

'If they want to sledge, it's fine'

Australia will face a very different looking England to the one they went up against in 2023. It's a series with storied narratives, drama and often a lot of needle between the two sides. Boland felt Australia will not be affected by any sledging that England might throw at them, like they did at India at home in the recently-concluded Anderson-Tendulkar trophy.

"They can do whatever they want when they're playing," Boland said. "I think we've been pretty consistent in the way we've played since I've been in and around the squad the last four years. Nothing much has changed in how we play our cricket.

"Even going forward, it's just going to be whoever wins those big moments in the games. We've got match-winners with the bat and with the ball. So yeah, if they want to sledge, that's fine. I don't think it's going to worry our guys too much."

The much-anticipated Ashes will begin on November 21.