Boland changed injured quick bowler Hazlewood within the opening Test at Brisbane and was a key performer together with his red-hot kind making him nearly undroppable.
Australia’s Scott Boland celebrates after taking the wicket of South Africa’s Marco Jansen throughout day two of the primary cricket Test match between Australia and South Africa on the Gabba in Brisbane on 18 December 2022. Picture: Patrick HAMILTON/AFP
MELBOURNE – Australian seamer Scott Boland was Sunday confirmed to start out the Boxing Day second Test in Melbourne forward of an “underdone” Josh Hazlewood, whereas South Africa prompt they may shake up their batting line up.
Boland changed injured quick bowler Hazlewood within the opening Test at Brisbane and was a key performer together with his red-hot kind making him nearly undroppable.
He is now assured of one other sport on his house floor – the place he took an unimaginable 6-7 on debut in opposition to England a 12 months in the past, cementing himself into Ashes folklore.
Skipper Pat Cummins instructed reporters the workforce was unchanged from the aspect that received by six wickets inside two days on a hostile bowler-friendly Gabba pitch in Brisbane final week, the primary of a three-match sequence.
“We gave Joshy every chance, (but) it just got to a stage where (he) more than anyone else felt like he was a little bit underdone,” he mentioned.
“It’s a mark of the man really, he himself said ‘don’t feel quite right’, so he kind of pulled himself out of selection.
“We discuss loads about how (as) a workforce we want a squad mentality, and I feel it is one other nice instance.”
Hazlewood missed Australia’s last two Tests in Adelaide and Brisbane due to a side strain but had been training hard in the build-up to Melbourne, where hot and humid conditions are expected.
Boland has taken 25 wickets at 10.33 since his debut at the MCG a year ago and said Friday he was hoping his local knowledge would give him the edge over Hazlewood.
The Boxing Day Test will be David Warner’s 100th, with the opener striving to end a lean run that has seen some question his position in the side.
He is just 78 runs shy of 8,000 Test runs and has vowed to get back to his best.
“This is likely to be a wicket the place I can exit and play just like the previous me,” he said.
CHANGE
After his batsmen largely failed to fire in Brisbane – where they were bowled out for 152 and 99 – South African captain Dean Elgar said a change could be afoot.
He was not willing to go into details, although middle-order batsman Theunis de Bruyn has been tipped to come in.
“The little bit I may give away is our bowlers retain their spots,” he said.
“There’s in all probability a change amongst the batters.”
South Africa’s batting struggles in Brisbane followed some poor displays earlier in the year, with only Sarel Erwee and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne making centuries since the start of the 2021/22 season.
Despite this, batting coach Justin Sammons backed them to come good as the series progresses.
“We’ve received to maintain the idea and the gamers do have the idea,” he said.
“We have not performed to our potential within the final couple of Tests and we’re additionally decided to get it proper. The guys are on the market doing their finest behind the scenes and I’m assured that they will get it proper.”
TEAMS:
Australia workforce: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
South Africa squad: Dean Elgar (capt), Temba Bavuma, Gerald Coetzee, Theunis de Bruyn, Sarel Erwee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams, Khaya Zondo
