Scott Boland Snatches the Ashes From England’s Reach on Debut
By: Mohammed M Ali
Tags: Cricket, England Cricket, Australian Cricket, The Ashes, Cricket News

When we talk about dream debut’s for players in sport, our minds flash to young players scoring a goal, making a big play, or making noticeable impacts on games at a tender age.

Scott Boland however decided to shyly defy all of that. In quite humble fashion, the Victorian finished with jaw-dropping figures 6–7 in just four overs to win Australia the third test as well as retain the Ashes by midday. It’s probably best to ask anyone from the dugout but him about how monumental the entire event is as he reluctantly embraced the worship from his home crowd at the MCG whilst doing so.

Scott Boland celebrating his maiden test wicket in Mark Wood.

The 32 year old stepping into his home ground with two wickets in his first over in the previous day but continues to reaffirm broadcasters of his own disbelief of how quickly tables turned.

“I knew we were in a good chance of winning, but I didn’t know it’d happen so quickly”

Day 2 was an eventful one, with Australia for the first time in the series looking vulnerable with the bat as they only managed an 82 run lead but they too took some major positives leading into the third as Boland and Starc took two a-piece, bringing in Root for the final time this year to steady the ship for the England side alongside Stokes. Despite some clean hitting down the ground from both, it wasn’t to last as Stokes was the first of six to make the walk back to the dressing rooms after Starc seamed one back in from off stump to bowl Stokes through the gate. The wicket’s from there continued to fall as Boland relentlessly hit good lengths, continuously making the batsmen ask questions about it’s seam movement on a pitch that was slowly beginning to flatten from which Green also went and joined the celebrations as he crashed the ball into Anderson to finish things off.

Scott Boland truly has a lot to remember about this performance and it’s almost certain that the fans in Melbourne won’t let him forget it either. After the game-winning performance, the fast-bowler finishes the test as the second aboriginal player to represent Australia in men’s test cricket after the iconic Jason Gillespie. He also became the recipient of the Jason Mullagh medal, commemorating the Australian Aboriginal tour of England in 1868. If that wasn’t enough, he’s also achieved the third best figures on debut for an Australian in Australia, but even a statistic as significant like that loses it’s light to the memories Boland has forged into tens of thousands of fans in the MCG, and the millions who will watch the historic moment back.

England will once again look back and reflect on what’s gone wrong. With poor managerial decision making in the first half of the series, it’s clear to say that there is a growing gap in skill levels between the two sides. England is going through a time where they need to continue backing their openers in Hameed and Burns whilst their bowlers lack an X factor to break apart an Australian batting line-up when partnerships develop despite Anderson’s success. Their approach as a whole in Australia has looked a defensive one as they look to contain runs rather than take wickets whilst Australia add to their depth in both areas England seem to have the most issues. Marcus Harris’ innings will surely hold weight as he steered the side to their total without a Labuschagne or Warner masterclass and Boland joins an increasingly dangerous looking group of fast bowlers alongside his peers in Starc, captain Cummins, and Green, as well as Hazelwood and Neser who look to be fit for the next battle.

-Mohammed M Ali