Six-figure pay rise: Scott Boland‘s incredible form is about to be rewarded in a big way
A month ago it seemed Scott Boland’s test dream was over. Now he’s a prized member of Australia’s bowling attack and set for a six figure pay rise.
Scott Boland is headed for a six figure pay rise, with further evidence Australia now considers him a highly prized member of their attack.
Australia won’t give final confirmation that Boland will play in Friday’s fifth Test in Hobart until he passes a final medical check in the morning, but the fact selectors are willing to trust the fast bowler to play through pain shows the high esteem he is held in after just two matches.
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Boland got through a net session fitness test on Thursday without trouble and is expected to take his place in the attack, pending a final check on the rib impact injury he picked up during the Sydney Test.
Less than a month ago, Boland was a state cricket journeyman who looked highly unlikely to ever play a Test match, but his heroics in Melbourne and Sydney have boosted him to a CA central contract, which should be upgraded to a big money deal when the contract lists are updated in April.
There is confidence that in-form fairytale story Boland can play through the pain, and that his bowling should not be impeded under lights in the Ashes finale - illustrating how much he has grown in estimations from his initial casting as an MCG track specialist.
“We think he should be right but just (wanted to see him) have another bowl in the nets,” Cummins said of Boland’s final fitness test on Thursday.
“I don’t think he’ll be getting any injections down here, (from) what we’ve heard.
“It feels a little bit better than it did a few days ago. He bowled 30, 40 overs after he did the injury, which gives us a lot of confidence he can get through it.
“Just speaking to him, it’s an injury he’s confident doesn’t get worse with heaps of bowling. It’s just the pain. Hopefully, he can manage that. He’s played enough, he’ll be honest.”
The report from Australian training was that Boland was happy with how he felt bowling and he appears almost certain to play.
Jhye Richardson would be on standby if Boland wakes up sore, but that’s not expected.
Boland could command a contract upwards of $800,000 following his breakout Test summer, where he has become an indispensable force with Josh Hazlewood on the sidelines injured.
It’s highly likely Boland will be taken on Australia’s tour of Pakistan in March, where coaches expect his accurate stump-to-stump style to be effective.
Statistics compiled by cricket.com.au show that from the small sample size of Test cricket in Pakistan since teams resumed touring there, fast bowling has had more success than spin.
With the fifth Ashes Test the first pink ball Test ever to be played in Hobart, there’s a sense of the unknown – particularly when Australia hasn’t played a Test of any sort in the Apple Isle since 2016.
One factor that could set Hobart apart from other pink ball venues Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth is the bitterly cold temperatures that could blow in off the Derwent River during the night sessions.
“There’s a bit of grass on it. I don’t really know what to expect,” said Cummins.
“Especially in the first few days, hopefully there’s a bit of seam, maybe a bit of swing. It’s going to be a bit humid as well.
“Sometimes when it’s really cold at night it doesn’t do as much, I don’t know if that’s the case.
“Every pink ball feels like there’s unknowns coming into it. Maybe even more so here not knowing the venue. But it looks like a really good wicket.”
Boland selection hinges on one final hurdle
Scott Boland looks likely to play the final Ashes Test in Hobart, but must pass a final fitness test at training on Thursday.
Australian captain Pat Cummins confirmed that Usman Khawaja would replace Marcus Harris as the new opener but the skipper stopped short of finalising his Hobart XI until after Boland shows he can get through some bowling.
Australia will confirm its XI later on Thursday afternoon.
Boland has pulled up sore from Sydney, but there’s confidence it’s pain he can bowl through and that the impact injury to his ribs will not get worse.
It’s on his non bowling side and he still bowled an entire innings at the SCG after going for a scan on the injury.
The faith in Boland to play through soreness illustrates the high esteem he has shot to in the Australian ranks, where selectors and medical confidence have supreme confidence in his ability and judgement.
Jhye Richardson would be on standby if Boland was to struggle to get through training.
“We’re just going to give Scotty Boland a crack at having a bowl in the next hour or so. And we’ll have a team out in a couple of hours,” said Cummins.
“It’s a pretty tight turnaround between Tests. We think he should be alright, he’s just going to have another bowl in the nets.
“I think any wicket suits Scotty at the moment.
“I don’t think he’ll be getting injections down here from what we’ve heard. He’ll just have a bowl and judge it, if he feels a bit better than he did a few days ago.
“He bowled 30-40 overs after he did the injury and that gives us a lot of confidence he can get through it. Just speaking to him it’s an injury that he’s confident doesn’t get worse with lots of bowling.”
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