Scott Boland’s classy move amid Aussie selection dilemma for Ashes

Australian fast bowler Scott Boland has taken a pragmatic approach to the team's selection crunch ahead of the first Ashes Test on Friday. Boland played a starring role in the World Test Championship triumph over India last week, but is no certainty to line up for the first Test against England.

Selectors will have to choose between the in-form Boland or proven veteran Josh Hazlewood, who will be returning from injury. Boland played a key role in Australia's WTC final victory, claiming two first innings wickets and three in the second at his typically economical rate.

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It's a genuine dilemma for selectors, however with the series in England condensed so that it will be wrapped up before the beginning of August, Boland says he's comfortable with the notion that it isn't if, but when, he'll make his Ashes debut. It's a telling admission from someone skipper Pat Cumins recently described as his 'favourite' player.

Boland also has the backing of Marnus Labuschagne, but says whether or not he plays at Edgbaston is of no great concern to him. He's comfortable that a chance for him to play will come sooner or later, determined to do what is required of him for Australia to pick up a highly sought after series victory in England.

"My job is to keep performing, keep making the selectors’ job hard," Boland said when asked about his prospects for the first Test. "I’m loving my time in the team. I know at some stage I’m going to play during the Ashes, if it it’s not the first Test, then it's not the first Test."

The 31-year-old says he is more concerned with fulfilling his role for the team, rather than continuing on from his heroics with the new ball in the second innings against India. It's a pragmatic approach from a bowler who has not only been knocking on the door for selection, but all but breaking it down.

"If I can keep the scoreboard going nowhere it makes the job easier for the bowler at the other end," he said. "Bowling on the MCG for so long, I’ve always felt that as soon as I try to chase wickets I go for runs, so I just try and keep my game plan as simple as I can.

"As soon as I stray from that I want to go back into it as soon as I can. I think it fits in well with the team that if I can play my role in controlling the run rate then it makes (Nathan) Lyon’s job easier, it makes Pat’s job easier."

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Labuschagne said Boland's performance against India at The Oval was a blueprint for his best cricket throughout the Ashes series. Particularly enjoyable for the Aussie batsman was the manner in which Boland dismissed Virat Kohli in India's second innings, a sure sign of a mature fast bowler.

"He’s one of the most accurate, consistent bowlers I’ve ever seen," Labuschagne said. "Ball after ball, he hits the right line and length and gives you nothing as a batter.

"It creates a lot of pressure and forces batters to play at balls they’d normally leave, in an effort to get off strike and get the scoreboard moving. That’s exactly what happened with Virat in the second innings.

"Scott was hitting a very tight channel for a few overs, and then had the skill to push that delivery a few inches wider than the previous deliveries and got the edge. It’s fantastic to watch."

Boland has also earned the approval of legendary former Aussie skipper Steve Waugh. The Victorian has taken 33 wickets at 14.57, the third-best average in history, and has an economy rate of 2.31 - the second-best of all seamers in the past four years.

"He is a great Test-match bowler," Waugh said. "He can be the most successful of our attack in this Ashes series.

"I just love the way he bowls. He is always at the batsman and hits the pitch really hard."

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