“The interesting thing is knowing the length to keep the top of the stumps at play. It feels like it suits him. His natural length seems to be perfect to hit the top of off and that makes it really difficult for batters. They get caught on the crease, it’s hard to drive and play off the back foot.
“The MCG is interesting because it can have tennis ball bounce. It can jump a little bit. To get it up there with a bit of sideway movement seems to suit him quite a lot.”
Scott Boland celebrates the wicket of Jonny Bairstow during his man of the match performance at the MCG in 2021.Credit: Chris Hopkins
Just as the likes of Jamie Siddons, Stuart Law and Darren Lehmann were unfortunate to be batters born in the wrong era, Boland is the modern version for bowlers. His only sin is being in the same generation as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood – all in Australia’s top 10 Test wicket-takers.
In any other period, it’s not hard to see him having a record like a Damien Fleming, Paul Reiffel or Michael Kasprowicz, all 20-plus Test quicks who did not have to compete with three all-time pace greats for a spot.
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Players typically get opportunities through a combination of three ways: by breaking the door down through performance, the loss of form of an incumbent or in the event of injury. All of Boland’s Test appearances have come through the latter scenario.
There is evidence to support those who want to prosecute the case Boland should play more prominent role rather than be merely an understudy.
His average of 20.42 (40 wickets) is superior to that of Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood in the same period, albeit from a smaller sample size. Australia have won eight of the nine home Tests he has played, the only blemish coming in the Sydney Test of the 2021-22 Ashes when England scraped home for a draw nine down.
He also provides variety to the pace attack through the fuller length he bowls, and his capacity to move the ball back into the right-hander.
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“He’s very different to a lot of other bowlers,” former Test spinner Bryce McGain, who commentates on a lot of Victoria’s games at the MCG, said. “A lot are move the ball away, seam away, he’s more in, but he’s so good at taking the ball away as well.
“He’s a completely different proposition to the whole attack. Against left-handers, he’s a nightmare. He can go around the wicket. He’s exceptional, he doesn’t let up. For a lot of Shield batsmen, it’s overwhelming. He gives nothing.
“He could still get the ball to move on a dead wicket. He’s just got the formula right. He’s not half-volley, he hits top of the stumps regularly, but often he’s fuller than that when he goes for a wicket-taking ball.
“It’s a pretty amazing his record. It’s staggering. He’s always prepared, he’s always ready, relentless and super fit.”