Hurricanes pace ace looks to emulate stunning white ball resurgence of former Shield mate

It hasn’t taken long for Scott Boland to become a key cog in Hobart’s Big Bash pace arsenal, as he continues to thrive in key roles in the side’s fast start to the tournament.

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HURRICANES strike weapon Scott Boland spent a lot of time terrorising opposition sides alongside Peter Siddle — now he’s eager to emulate his former teammate’s stunning white ball resurgence.

Boland and Siddle, both noted red ball performers, formed part of the nucleus which led Victoria to four Sheffield Shield titles in five seasons from 2014-15 to 2018-19.

And now as he witnesses Siddle’s transformation into one of the premier quicks in the Big Bash, Boland believes he can follow suit.

Scott Boland produced a brilliant against the Melbourne Renegades at Blundstone Arena on Saturday. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Siddle, who took the equal fourth best BBL figures of 5-16 for Adelaide against Hobart last Tuesday night, has added a host of variety to his arsenal to become a T20 weapon.

In his second season with the Hurricanes, Boland is also becoming one of the side’s go-to options.

The 31-year-old produced a brilliant spell of 2-19 in Saturday’s six-wicket win against the Melbourne Renegades, which included his first ever maiden in the T20 format.

Thirteen of those runs came from the final four balls of Melbourne’s “Power Surge”.

“I feel like I’m bowling pretty well, even the first couple of games, bowling in the surge and at the death,” said Boland, who was Hobart’s leading wicket taker last season.

“It’s been a little bit different in the last couple of games, I have bowled in the powerplay as well.

“I feel like the ball’s going where I want it to go, which is a nice feeling as a fast bowler, especially in this format.

“Obviously he’s [Siddle] at another level with his accuracy and his pace.

Scott Boland (right) celebrates a wicket with Peter Siddle (left) during a Sheffield Shield match. (AAP Image/George Salpigtidis)

“He’s probably a really good guy who I can sort of emulate a bit off, the way he’s transformed his game from being just a red ball player, he’s doing really well in the white ball stuff now.

“He’s someone I can really try and copy.”

The Hurricanes rolled the dice in opting not to pick a specialist spinner for the 11am start at Blundstone Arena, a move which reaped immediate dividends when James Faulkner and Boland struck in the first two overs to leave Melbourne reeling at 2-4.

It was the third time in four matches Faulkner has landed a blow in his first six balls — including two wickets against the Strikers at UTAS Stadium — while in the other contest he snared a wicket in his second over.

“I think the 11 o’clock start, we thought it might nip around a little bit so that’s why we were happy to bowl first,” Boland said.

“Jimmy got another wicket in the first over again, he’s been awesome and really set the tone for us and then we sort of carried on after him.”

Scott Boland appeals for the wicket of Mohammad Nabi of the Renegades during the Big Bash League match between the Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades at Blundstone Arena, on December 19, 2020, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

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