Scott Boland is relishing a pain-free spell, a first in 18 months, as he prepares to challenge for a place in Australia’s World Test Championship (WTC) final squad against South Africa. Competing against Josh Hazlewood for a coveted spot at Lord’s, Boland, 36, seeks to make the selectors’ choice a tough one.
Despite playing a starring role in his last Test match against India, earning the player of the match accolade in Sydney, Boland was overlooked for Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka. There, the team opted for a combination of one pace bowler and three spinners across two Tests. Boland has not taken to the field since Victoria’s penultimate match of the Sheffield Shield season in March, struggling with persistent knee discomfort.
Boland made a significant impact in the Border-Gavaskar series, stepping up for the injured Hazlewood. His performance in the 2023 WTC final was notable, as he was chosen over Hazlewood. Nevertheless, he understands his position isn’t assured at Lord’s, especially with Hazlewood in excellent form, having led the Royal Challengers Bangalore to their first IPL title.
Reflecting on his hiatus, Boland explained, “I’m really happy with how my body’s feeling at the moment. Pain-free for probably the first time in about 18 months. So it’s feeling really good.” He remarked on the necessity of his break, “My goal for probably the last two months was just to get myself and my body in the position where I can put my hand up and be ready to go if it goes my way.”
The decision between Boland and Hazlewood is just one of several considerations for Australia’s selectors. They also face decisions over selecting a specialist all-rounder, Cameron Green’s position as a pure batsman post-injury, and the opening partner for Usman Khawaja, as Travis Head reverts to No.5 after opening in Sri Lanka.
Boland recognises the competition. “I felt like I had a couple of really strong games,” he said. “But Josh is obviously a world-class bowler. He’s one of the best bowlers in the world coming off a really good IPL.”
Pain-free and reliable, Boland’s fitness gives him a strong case for selection, as concerns linger over Hazlewood’s durability given his injury history from recent Tests. This competition adds an intriguing subplot to Australia’s final team selection.
