Scott Boland Ready for Second Test After Hazlewood's Injury
Australian seamer Scott Boland is set to play in the second Test against India, replacing injured Josh Hazlewood. Despite the team's loss in Perth, Boland claims there are no panic stations in the change room. The team will discuss individual performances and make minor adjustments to their plans for Indian batters.
Boland, 35, is eager to contribute after recovering from off-season niggles. He has played 10 Tests with an impressive average of 20.34 but is aware of the strong competition within the team. The quartet of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Hazlewood are resilient and dominant, making it challenging for others to secure a spot.
Boland's preparation for the Adelaide Test included matches for Victoria and Australia A against India. He averages 13.71 from two Day-Night Tests with the pink ball. Although his bowling loads might be limited due to the weather, Boland is confident in his ability to adapt to the pink ball's unique behavior.
"Usually there can be two different games in the one game… You can bowl during the day when the sun's out and it doesn't do a whole lot, and then you get to the night session and the ball starts moving around a bit… I think it's just for the bowlers, we just communicate really well together about what the ball is doing and how the pitch is playing and then just sort of flicking between those modes as quick as you can."
Australia has not lost a pink-ball Test in Adelaide, and the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test begins on December 6.