Ricky Ponting says Scott Boland should play in the World Test Championship final

Selectors dropped in-form seamer Michael Neser for the World Test Championship final and Ricky Ponting knows who should play.

Australian Test great Ricky Ponting wants Scott Boland picked for the World Test Championship final at the Oval, declaring he’ll “thrive” in English conditions.

Selectors opted to leave out in-form quick Michael Neser, who was added to an extended squad ahead of next week’s showdown with India, despite ongoing injury concerns over Josh Hazlewood.

Boland, 33, remained in the final 15 from which Australia’s team will be picked along with fellow fast bowlers Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and captain Pat Cummins.

But the retention of Hazlewood, who left the Indian Premier League early to manage a side strain and has played just four Tests since December 2021, raised some eyebrows.

Ponting said Boland, who has taken 28 wickets in just seven Tests, and 18 in three Ashes Tests in Australia in the 2021/22 series, should be given a chance in conditions that should suit him.

“Boland‘s record when he’s played over the last 12 months has been absolutely outstanding,” Ponting told the latest episode of the ICC Review.

Scott Boland has a fan in Ricky Ponting. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“He‘s one that would really, potentially thrive in these English conditions.

“We’ve seen what he‘s been able to do in Australia when there has been a bit of assistance off the wicket there and with the ball, so I think he‘ll get the nod.”

The Australians will hit the WTC final with varied levels of preparation and no warm-up games in England.

Veteran opener David Warner and all-rounder Cameron Green will join from the IPL, while most of the squad have had a training camp but no games since the Australian tour of India in February and March.

That contingent includes keeper Alex Carey, but he defended the lack of any tour games in England ahead of both the WTC final and then the five-Test Ashes series with England.

“The guys have all gone away and had individual programs over this (recent) period. We have had guys playing cricket here in England. The guys at the IPL and some guys at home spending some time there,” Carey said ahead of the clash with India.

Alex Carey says the Aussies will be ready. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“Coming together now we really feel the excitement heading into the Test Championship and I think it will be a hindsight thing about whether or not we should have played a warm-up match.

“As a player, I feel like we will be ready come that first match, so I think it will be one of the things talked about after the Test match.”

“But it’s a pretty special opportunity to play in a grand final, so to speak, and obviously the Ashes is just around the corner, too.”