“Scott Boland’s extraordinary feat was a victory for the underdogs, the toilers and the dreamers”

Scott Boland tore England apart in his debut at the Boxing Day test. Read about his extraordinary journey in today’s cover story.

It feels like an age ago, but think back to the days after Christmas 2021. Covid was ravaging the east coast, celebrations and family reunions had been scuppered, whole days were swallowed in PCR testing queues. The mood was dark.

Our own Christmas plans were thwarted so we unexpectedly found ourselves in Melbourne, and when in that city at that time of year there’s only one place to be, the Boxing Day Test. It would prove to be one of the most memorable sporting events we’d witnessed, thanks to a little known bowler named Scott Boland who was making his debut at the age of 32. To witness him tearing through the English batsmen in his humble, understated way seemed to lift the country, cricket fans or not. Suddenly Covid was not the only story in town. As Greg Bearup writes, Boland’s extraordinary feat was a victory for the underdogs, the toilers and the dreamers.