Boland primes for England face-off as Ashes beckons

Boasting the sixth-best bowling average (minimum 50 wickets) in Test cricket history, numbers alone would make Scott Boland the first pick for most international lineups.

But sitting behind the illustrious trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood in Australia’s pace pecking order, Boland finds himself on the bench more often than not.

However, the 36-year-old is aware of his importance in the Australia setup, and delivers with aplomb when needed as he did recently with a hat-trick during his 6/36 against West Indies in pace-friendly conditions.

The pacer is ready to bide his time, and make the impact when required of him against Ben Stokes’ England this summer.

Speaking to the reporters at an event to mark 100 days until the first Ashes Test, the pacer recalled his rare expensive run in England back in 2023, when he nabbed two wickets at an average of 115.5, but believes he’s in a better place to go up against the arch-rivals.

“I've obviously thought about it a lot since it happened in 2023. But I still think there were times in England where I bowled pretty well and just didn't get a wicket.

“I'm a better bowler than I was back then. I'm going to be in our conditions that I know really, really well. I'm hoping to put in some good performances.”

Boland reckons England’s characteristic aggressive batting style under the leadership duo of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes on the seam-friendly wickets of Australia would keep the hosts in contention at all times in the series.

“They're going to play aggressively. If the wickets stay similar to what they've been over the last few years, I think we're going to be in the game all the time.

“There were little parts of the England tour last time, when the ball sort of moved around and favoured the bowlers, but generally over there, the wickets have been a bit flatter.

"And then when you come to Australia, certainly for the last three or four years, they've been bowler friendly.”

When asked if Australia might unleash four pacers against England during the Ashes, Boland backed compatriot Nathan Lyon to be the first choice for the host nation come the five-Test series.

“Not in Australia. Nathan is one of the best spin bowlers in the world, so I think he can bowl in any conditions. He’s been the glue to our bowling lineup for the last few years.”

Despite not being a certain in the Australian lineup, Boland emphasized on staying focused and delivering when he's put in the fray.

“I’d love to play all five, but I’d be hoping to play whatever comes up. A few years ago there were seven Tests in the summer and I was hoping to play a couple but didn’t get any games.

"And then last year there were only five Tests, and I got three, so I just got to be ready whenever the opportunity comes.”

The Ashes, which will also be a part of the World Test Championship cycle, begins on 21 November, 2025.