Ashes England v Australia: All the selection news in the lead up to the opening Test
An English cricketing legend believes that the hosts will treat Scott Boland ‘like he’s a spin bowler’ and attack the Aussie, but numerous other experts believe he won’t even make the final cut.
Michael Vaughan has declared England will charge Scott Boland “like he’s a spin bowler” in Friday’s first Ashes Test, but another key voice has questioned whether Australia’s magic man will even make the cut.
On Fox Cricket’s Edgbaston Ashes preview on Tuesday night, former Australian vice-captain Brad Haddin joined Ricky Ponting in predicting Josh Hazlewood would likely unseat Boland from the bowling attack, provided Australia are assured the veteran quick is 100 per cent fit for battle.
It would be one of the most brutal selection calls in Ashes history given injury-plagued Hazlewood has played just four Tests over the past four years, in which time Boland has stood up as a fully-fledged superstar and matchwinner.
Former Test selector Mark Waugh said on the Fox preview special that he doesn’t see how Australia can drop Boland after he was their best bowler in the World Test Championship Final triumph over India, as Australian cricket Godfather Allan Border dubbed the Victorian as the “new Terry Alderman” in English conditions.
If Boland does win selection, former England skipper Vaughan says he will be the Australian quick with the ‘Bazball’ target on his head.
“(Bazball) has worked against most teams they’ve played, but this Australian team is different though. They’re a relentless bowling unit. They’ll try though. Scott Boland, they’ll be running at him like a spinner,” Vaughan told Fox’s Ashes preview.
“They’ll be running down the wicket trying to get outside off-stump and treat him like a spinner.
“The first innings of the Ashes is going to be critical. It’s going to be great to watch and England will continue to try and play this way. Whether it’ll be good enough to win Ashes we’ll have to wait and see.”
Waugh agreed that England would try and target Boland – but believes Boland will be equal to the task and must play.
“He is one bowler they will try and run down the pitch to. He doesn’t have the trajectory of Hazlewood or Cummins,” Waugh said.
“It’ll be interesting to see how many credits Hazlewood has in the bank,” Haddin said on Fox.
“If Hazlewood is 100 per cent fit I think he comes back into the team straight away. I think we’ve seen that … Boland has never played when Hazlewood is fit.
“If there’s no doubt about Hazlewood breaking down … I think Hazlewood comes in.”
Both Haddin and Waugh agree Mitchell Starc is a must-pick – with his left-arm strike ability the point of difference against Bazball amongst Australia’s other right-arm seam up bowlers.
However, Waugh said Boland deserves to stay for the first Test.
“If you said this 12 months ago that Hazlewood would be left out of the team, someone would think you’re mad,” Waugh said.
“He’s very unlucky Hazlewood … but I think Boland has to play. Unfortunately I think Hazlewood has to miss out.”
Vaughan said he has concerns over the fitness of England’s bowlers, with Stuart Broad, aged 36, the only quick who has miles in his legs.
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