Another Test, another Boland debate for Australia
Pat Cummins admitted Scott Boland was "embarrassing" the Australian top order during training in Durban, out-bowling the captain himself on a surface suited to the metronome. Two days before the first Test at Kingsmead, Boland was doing it again at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, sneaking past the outside edge of Nic Maddinson and making life uneasy for Josh Inglis and others.
Cummins noted the temptation to play Boland in Gqeberha: “You know when you got someone like Scotty every Test match, you leave some training sessions shaking your head, how that bloke isn’t in your first XI.”
Australia is again tempted to bring Boland back to join the fast bowling unit, potentially at the expense of Nathan Lyon, as they did at Sabina Park in Jamaica and the Gabba during the Ashes. While not confirmed, signs suggest the Boland option may be deployed. The 37-year-old arrived at the ground early, setting cones at his typical length and hitting them with precision. He was asked to pad up for the nets after a long chat with chief selector George Bailey.
The final decision will be made Sunday morning after inspecting the pitch (6-8 mm grass) and the ominous weather forecast for the opening two days. Boland’s recent Test form has been remarkable: he averaged 13.19 for 21 wickets against India and 24.95 for 20 against England in the Ashes, including a Test hat-trick and match figures of 6/36 in Kingston. However, with Josh Hazlewood and Cummins back and fitter than ever, Boland has struggled to keep his place.
There is also a sense of foreboding regarding how much more Boland Australia can access as he gets deeper into his 30s. He would be a handful for the South African batting line-up, which includes two new batters.
The key question is what this decision means for Lyon, who looked to be returning to his best in Durban with two wickets, both off breathtaking catches by Steve Smith. Selectors must weigh the grass and weather against the historical destructiveness of spin in Gqeberha.
The status quo may remain, with Lyon pairing with his fellow future hall-of-fame bowlers (who have collectively taken over 600 wickets). This would leave Boland to continue embarrassing batters in the nets, leaving Cummins dumbfounded by the "Boland conundrum."
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