Megan Hustwaite: Scott Boland’s stunning Test debut was also about opportunity, representation

Just like Cathy Freeman etched her way into Australian folklore, hometown hero Scott Boland is set to inspire a new generation.

Scott Boland poses with the Johnny Muller medal, match ball and stump after winning the Ashes. Picture: Getty Images

Australia has a new sporting hero and he’s Victorian.

He’s a gun cricketer. He’s a humble hometown hero. He’s Scott Boland.

The 32-year-old completed the dream Test debut at the MCG on Boxing Day, earning man-of-the-match honours for a sensational spell of 6-7 in four overs as Australia won in a canter to reclaim the Ashes.

But this was much more than a bowling performance that had the crowd in raptures, celebrations from couches around the nation, and social media abuzz.

Just like Cathy Freeman etched her way into Australian folklore with her iconic gold medal-winning run at the Sydney Olympics, Boland will have inspired a new generation.

This was about opportunity and representation.

Australia’s paceman Scott Boland wins Player of the match after Australia retained the Ashes at the end of the third Ashes Test. Picture: Hamish Blair

Boland, from the Gulidjan tribe in the Colac district, became just the second Indigenous man following Jason Gillespie in 1996, to play Test cricket for his country. That’s two from a total of 463 representatives.

Fittingly, for his performance Boland was awarded the Johnny Mullagh Medal, crafted from a belt buckle from the Australian Indigenous tour of England in 1868.

In 2018, he was part of a historic tour of Indigenous players to honour the feats of Mullagh and his team.

“We got to learn so much about that tour and what went on and my family are very proud and I’m obviously very proud to win this award,” Boland said post-game.

His former Victorian teammate Dan Christian, a proud Wiradjuri man, was also on that tour.

“It’s such a beautiful story,” Christian told the Herald Sun.

“Some of the praise has to go to Paul Stewart, Adam Cassidy, Courtney Hagen and everyone else that’s worked on Cricket Australia’s reconciliation action plan for the work they did before and after our 2018 UK Aboriginal tour, that commemorated the 1868 tour.

“Scott and I were lucky enough to be a part of that. It was a humbling experience and a huge honour and privilege for us. One of the recommendations in the reconciliation action plan afterwards was to develop a man-of-the-match medal and name it after Unnaarrimin, or Johnny Mullagh, for the biggest day in the Australian sporting calendar, the Boxing Day Test.

“So, it couldn’t be more fitting that a member of that touring party would then go ahead and not only make his Test debut in the match that the inaugural awarding of the medal was to happen, but to the go on and produce a man of the match award to win.

“It was one of the most heartwarming moments I’ve ever seen in sport.”

Christian was in tears on Tuesday morning as Boland received the medal.

“I’m sure I’m not the only one that felt like that.

“Hopefully he’s inspired a whole generation of young Indigenous kids to not only pick up a bat and a ball and head out into the backyard but also shown them the value of working hard and persevering on the path to chasing your dreams.”

Boland has chased, and achieved, his dreams by earning and capitalising on his opportunities at every level.

Scott Boland celebrates after dismissing Jack Leach of England during day two of the Third Test. Picture: Quinn Rooney

From club cricket at Parkdale where he was a little shy and a little tubby but an obvious talent, in Melbourne’s southeast, plying his trade with Frankston in Victorian Premier Cricket through to representing Victoria where he’s had huge Sheffield Shield success and was crowned Shield Player of the Year in 2018-19.

Boland’s stats tell a damning story particularly at the MCG where he has been largely unplayable for visiting batsmen.

Pre-Ashes, Boland felt he was eighth in line for a spot in the Australian fast bowling cartel.

On Christmas Eve, Australian selector Tony Dodemaide, former Cricket Victoria CEO, had the special task of calling Boland and telling him he would make his Test debut at his home ground.

His selection, which some believed was a shock and others felt was obvious, paid dividends.

The fairytale script would be executed a few days later and Boland was quick to thank the vocal home crowd for their support.

“I’ve never played in front of a crowd so supportive. It felt like they were pushing me in when I was running in to bowl.”

Humble, respectful, hardworking and a wonderful ambassador for his sport, people and state, Scott Boland is a worthy hometown hero.

Megan Hustwaite is a sports presenter and passionate supporter of Victorian cricket

Originally published as Megan Hustwaite: Scott Boland’s stunning Test debut was also about opportunity, representation