Scott Boland Makes A Bold Call Regarding His Place Ahead of Ashes 2023: 'If It's Not The First Test Then...'
Boland claimed 5 wickets in WTC Final against India [AP Photo]
Despite being Australia's most potent bowler in the recently concluded ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023 against India, Scott Boland is not taking his place in the playing XI for granted for the upcoming 'The Ashes 2023' series. Boland picked as many as five wickets across both innings in the WTC Final, making life tough for Indian batters.
To Boland's credit, skipper Pat Cummins even lauded the pacer as being his favourite bowler in the Australian side, highlighting his consistency and accuracy. Boland faces stiff competition from Josh Hazlewood, who is expected to be fit for the first Ashes Test starting June 16.
Speaking to cricket.com.au, the 34-year-old stated that his job is to perform, and make the selector's 'job hard'.
Here's what Boland said
"My job is to keep performing, keep making the selectors' job hard. I am loving my time in the team. I know at some stage I'm going to play during the Ashes, if it's not the first Test, then it's not the first Test."
Talking about his role in the side, Boland, who has claimed 33 wickets in just eight Tests, explained that his work is to make things easier for other bowlers by applying pressure from one end.
"I like to bowl long spells to try and give the other bowlers a bit of a break. If I can keep the scoreboard going nowhere it makes the job easier for the bowler at the other end. Bowling on the MCG for so long, I've always felt that as soon as I try to chase wickets I go for runs, so I just try and keep my game plan as simple as I can. As soon as I stray from that I want to go back into it as soon as I can."
It will be interesting to see if the Australian management decides to play their best XI or tinker with a winning XI at Edgbaston on Friday.
 "Vishal Mehra")
