Australian seamer Scott Boland confident he can play all five Ashes Tests if required
As the Australian captain nurses a delicate back ahead of the Ashes — the next man in says he’s fitter than he was this time last year and insists he’s capable of lasting the length of five Tests.
A history of marathon Sheffield Shield spells has assured Australian seamer Scott Boland he can go the length of an Ashes summer if required.
The Aussies are waiting on the fitness of superstar captain Pat Cummins after back stress fractures reduced him to lighter duties ahead of the first Test in November.
But Boland, who has dominated at Test level including a remarkable hat-trick in his last match, says he’s capable of playing all five matches against England if called upon.
The 36-year-old is confident he could survive the entire tour because he’s done it before – playing half a dozen red-ball matches for Victoria ahead of a Big Bash League season.
“Pat and Starcy (Mitchell Starc) have got five in the last couple of years and they all got through seven together two or three summers ago,” Boland said, as the Melbourne Stars launched a partnership with Intrepid Travel.
“I’ve done it before in Shield cricket, played six games before the Big Bash so if I need to play all five I am confident I’d be able to do it.
“I’m making sure I’m getting my loads up, keeping the intensity where I want it to be … I’m starting to ramp up a little bit now and get a back-to-back bowling at some stage.”
Despite setbacks to Cummins as well as depth pacemen Lance Morris and Spencer Johnson, Boland says his workload hasn’t changed.
If anything, he’s bowling more balls this summer compared to last after shaking a niggling knee issue.
Boland plans to play for Victoria in its opening Sheffield Shield match on October 4 as part of that build up to the Ashes.
“My body is going really well, I come back from the West Indies and had a good six or seven weeks of strength training and am back bowling now,” Boland said.
“Nothing has changed yet, I think last year we sort of left my build up a bit late to give my knee a bit more time but this year my body is feeling in a better spot.
“I am probably bowling a few more balls leading into this summer which is going to be a good thing I reckon.”
The Ashes starts on November 21 and runs through to January 8.
Originally published as Australian seamer Scott Boland confident he can play all five Ashes Tests if required
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