Absurd numbers behind Scott Boland’s Ashes fairytale

Scott Boland’s Test career could not have gotten off to a better start and he’s already rewriting the history books — but with an asterisk.

It’s official – Scott Boland is the best bowler in Test history.

Well, sort of.

Of cricketers with at least 10 Test wickets, Boland’s bowling average of 8.27 is the lowest in history. That’s obviously one heck of an asterisk but it’s been a fairytale start to Boland’s Test career since the Victorian seamer cemented his place in Ashes folklore by claiming 6/7 on Test debut at the MCG.

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The 32-year-old has backed it up with another classy performance in Sydney, snaring 4/36 in the first innings to help roll England for 294 – the side’s seventh consecutive score of less than 300 in the series.

Boland’s first scalp in the New Year’s Test was England opener Zak Crawley, who left a huge gap between bat and pad while attempting an expansive drive down the ground. The Kookaburra nipped back off a good length and crashed into the right-hander’s middle stump.

Soon after, England captain Joe Root was making his way back to the sheds for a duck after falling victim to Boland.

Root needlessly swatted at a wide delivery on the back-foot, and Australian vice-captain Steve Smith claimed a smart catch above his head at second slip.

England was suddenly 4/36 and Boland had figures of 2/0 from four overs. At the lunch break on day three, he had taken 8/7 from eight overs in his two most recent Test innings.

Best bowling average in Test history

8.27 – Scott Boland (AUS)

8.72 – Charles Marriott (ENG)

10.07 – Fred Martin (ENG)

10.75 – George Lohmann (ENG)

11.86 – Axar Patel (IND)

* Minimum 10 Test wickets

Scott Boland of Australia. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes steadied the ship in the afternoon session and after bowling the final delivery before the tea interval, Boland tumbled on the SCG deck and hurt his side.

The paceman was sent for scans and did not bowl during Friday’s evening session, but Australian coach Justin Langer reassured reporters he would be available to play the following morning.

“He went for a scan just after the (tea) break and we were looking at his ribs on the computer screen about half an hour later,” he explained.

“So thankfully there‘s no fractures.

“He‘s going to be sore in the cartilage between his ribs but hopefully he’ll be right to bowl tomorrow or in the second innings.”

Boland indeed returned on Saturday morning and immediately created another breakthrough, removing centurion Bairstow for 113 early on day four. Bairstow feathered a catch behind for Australian gloveman Alex Carey, who made no mistake.

Boland closed the England innings soon after, dismissing tailender Stuart Broad for 15 with a short ball that was slapped directly in the air.

He walked off the SCG with an additional four wickets under his belt. In just three innings, he’s taken more wickets than any England bowler in the Ashes series.

Scott Boland would’ve taken a wicket from the scanning clinic yesterday if Pat Cummins gave him the ball. #Ashes

— Adam White (@White_Adam) January 7, 2022

Scott Boland took 4-36 and his Test bowling average actually went up. @codesportsau

— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) January 7, 2022

“It sends a message to every medium pacer around Australia,” former Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket.

“If you work to get a command of line and length and accuracy and just a little bit off the seam, you can wear a baggy green, you can play for you country.

“Whatever road blocks are in front of you, disregard them because you could be Scott Boland.

“Because he was seen as an average Sheffield Shield player who just worked hard and beavered away on flat decks and did nothing remarkable.

“And then suddenly he got his opportunity at the MCG, his home deck, took 6/7 … he’s come to the SCG and been offered a graveyard because of the slowness of the pitch, he’s taken 4/36 and when he was off the field yesterday the attack lacked sting.”

On Saturday morning, Cricket Australia confirmed fast bowler Josh Hazlewood would be unavailable for the fifth Ashes Test as he recovered from a side strain sustained during the Gabba Test.

Although it’s a frustrating blow for Hazlewood, it means cricket fans will presumably get to witness Boland work his magic with the pink ball under Bellerive Oval’s artificial lights next week.

Originally published as Absurd numbers behind Scott Boland’s Ashes fairytale