Ashes 2023: Cult hero Boland could make way for returning Starc

Australian selectors are considering Mitchell Starc for the second test as Andrew McDonald admits surprise at England’s targeting of Scott Boland.

Scott Boland is under pressure to hold his Australian spot as Mitchell Starc is considered for the second test. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Australian coach Andrew McDonald says he was surprised by how aggressively England took to Scott Boland at Edgbaston as Aussie selectors ponder whether to unleash Mitchell Starc next week at Lord’s.

Pleased to be preparing for the remainder of the Ashes series from a position of strength after a gripping two-wicket win in Birmingham, McDonald and fellow selectors George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide have a general plan for how they wish to rotate their quicks for the remaining four Tests, with Starc shaping to play a role after being omitted for the first Test.

The left-armer made way for the returning Josh Hazlewood, who took 3-109 and was Australia’s most economical bowler as England attacked on day one.

It was Boland, who entered the Test with a bowling average of 14.57 at an economy rate of 2.31 who was the most expensive of the Aussies at Edgbaston, with England fulfilling the pre-series prediction of ex-captain Michael Vaughan by targeting the Victorian.

Scott Boland was the most expensive of the Australian bowlers at Edgbaston. Picture: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Boland, renowned for his accuracy and subtle variations, took 2-147 from 26 overs across the Test, not helped by a pitch offering very little for the quicks.

While Australia was forewarned about England’s aggressive Bazball approach, McDonald said he had not been expecting the extent of the onslaught.

“We’d seen the way they go about it, they are ultra-aggressive,” McDonald said.

“But I think Scott Boland, that match-up probably surprised us how aggressive they were against Scott.

“So that’s something we can look at and find better ways through.

“The way they played Nathan Lyon was predictable in some ways, I thought his output in the game – eight wickets under that type of pressure – showed …

“Clearly he’s a world-class performer, but to be able to navigate through that and give us an opportunity to get the game where it got to, chasing 280 over the last couple of days was very impressive.”

Asked why Hazlewood had got the nod over Starc, McDonald said that it had been a horses for courses decision.

“It’s conditions-based, and I’ve said that from the get-go,” McDonald said.

“We understand there’s going to be huge demand on all our fast bowlers to get through the five Test matches, plus the World Test Championship.

“So there’s six Test matches so we’ve got to be able to navigate through that.

“Josh was fit and available, we felt like he was the best on this surface and that might be Mitch next game, who knows?.”

Mitchell Starc speaks to Ricky Ponting as he sat out the first test. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images

McDonald said Australia had not been anticipating conditions helpful to swing in Birmingham.

“I think the fact the line and length potentially over left-arm swing, and we didn’t feel as though we may have got swinging conditions,” he said.

‘It’s really down to a gut feel at selection, it can be critiqued any way you want.

“We feel as though, looking back on it, potentially Mitch could have played a role, there’s no doubt about that.

‘But we felt like when we went into the game with all the information that we had, we made the best decision.

“We took Starcy on that journey, he understands that and he understands the fact there is four more Test matches and he’s got a pivotal part to play within that.”

McDonald said that selectors had mapped out a plan for the quicks, including understudy Michael Neser, but that it was subject to change.

Andrew McDOnald (L) says that conditions at Lord’s will dictate selection of the bowling attack. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“Yes there is, in short,” McDonald said.

“But the reality is our bowlers didn’t bowl as many overs as we probably expected in this Test match.

“There’s a longer turnaround, so you can have pencilled a plan but the reality is you see how they pull up, what the conditions are when we get to Lord’s and you make a decision with what’s in front of you.

“The good news is we’re going to have everyone available, there’s no injuries out of the game so we’ve got some decisions to make.

“Selection decisions are always hard, but we go through a process to get to that point taking the conditions and we make a decision from there.

“The issue is we’ve got great depth in the fast bowling, and that’s one of our great strengths.”

ENDS

Originally published as Ashes 2023: Cult hero Boland could make way for returning Starc