Michael Vaughan's subtle swipe at Scott Boland amid Ashes conundrum

Michael Vaughan has suggested the England bowlers will take on Aussie fan favourite Scott Boland if he is selected in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Boland was one of Australia's best performers in the Test Championship final as Pat Cummins' men lifted the trophy after defeating India at The Oval.

Boland took five wickets across the Test and was Australia's best bowler in a strong outing. However, there are question marks on who the Aussie selectors will favour when it comes down to it on Friday as Josh Hazlewood fights to be fit.

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Hazlewood has been a mainstay in the Aussie attack for years, despite Boland taking 28 wickets in Australia at 12.21. Add on his performance in England and many have the humble quick in the attack for the first Ashes test.

Aussie cricket greats Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin disagree and believe Hazlewood will come in for Boland if fit to add height and bounce. And this is because former England captain Vaughan has tipped the aggressive England batters to target Boland if he is selected.

“(Bazball) has worked against most teams they’ve played, but this Australian team is different though. They’re a relentless bowling unit," Vaughan said on the Ashes preview show on Fox Sports.

"They’ll try though. Scott Boland, they’ll be running at him like a spinner.” Vaughan's insight that England will most likely attack Boland didn't phase former selector Mark Waugh.

Waugh claimed Boland was nearly undroppable after a sensation Test Championship Final at The Oval. However, he also agreed with Vaughan and admitted the England batters will see Boland as a potential target come Friday.

Josh Hazlewood hits back at England approach

While plenty of critics are excited to see how England's 'Bazball' approach fares against the Aussie attacl, one veteran who doesn't think it's going to fly is Hazlewood. Captain Ben Stokes recently admitted flatter and faster wickets were requested around England ahead of the Ashes.

And Hazlewood said he would have moved the other way if he was the England captain. "It surprised me when (Stokes made his pitch request). It might have been a furphy, who knows," Hazlewood said. "But if I am England, I am probably going the opposite way.

"You are probably going green wickets that are doing a fair bit, and then back yourself to make more runs than us on those types of wickets. "They come to Australia and the wickets are harder, flatter and faster. And we've seen the results."

Meanwhile, cricket fans have reacted to the first glance of the Edgbaston pitch for the first Ashes Test and fans have called the wicket a 'batting paradise' sparking excitement around Steve Smith's potential.

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