Scott Boland or Michael Neser? Steve Smith on Australia's selection dilemma
Australia will have to make an adjustment from their planned bowling attack due to the injury to Josh Hazlewood that ruled the seamer out of the match against India.
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ICC World Test Championship 2023 Final from 7 to 11 June at The Oval.
And Hazlewood’s replacement in the Australia squad, Michael Neser, has all the skills to come straight into the XI and make a big impact if called upon, according to the former Aussie captain.
“(I’ve got) so much faith, he is a quality performer,” Smith said at The Oval on Monday.
“I faced him against (County side) Glamorgan a couple of weeks ago and he bowled beautifully.
“He has got great skills and he’s added some of the inswingers we have seen him bowl when the wicket is a bit flatter.
“So he has got loads of skills and is batting nicely as well, so he is a great package. If he gets an opportunity he will certainly do a very good job.”
Scott Boland was part of the original 15-strong squad for the one-off Test against India at The Oval, and would be making his eighth Test appearance if picked in the XI for Wednesday’s first day.
The 34-year-old’s pace, control and probing length would make him a threat on English surfaces, although he has played just one Test away from home and has yet to take a wicket outside Australia in the format.
“I think we will get what Scotty does pretty well,” Smith said.
“He hits a good length, hits the top of the stumps, seams the ball around, swings it if he wants to and he has got great skills as well.
“No doubt he will be a challenge if he gets the nod.”
Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, captain Pat Cummins and all-rounder Cameron Green are likely to make up the remainder of the attack alongside either Boland or Neser.
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India could well name two spinners in their attack for the Test, but seam and swing is expected to be the defining feature of a Test in alien conditions for both sides, with Smith earmarking Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj as the primary threats in the India attack.
“They have got a good mix of quality seam bowlers, with Shami and Siraj probably their two main guys,” Smith said.
“They have really good skills and the Dukes ball will suit them nicely. And then obviously their spinners as well, who bowl well in all conditions.
“So I think they have a good attack and we are going to have to play well against them this week.”
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**Australia:**Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.
Reserves: Mitch Marsh, Matt Renshaw
Note: Australia named Josh Hazlewood in their original 15-player squad but replaced the pacer with Michael Neser following approval from the Event Technical Committee.
**India:**Rohit Sharma (captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, KS Bharat, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadakt, Umesh Yadav.
Reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav