In and out and in again: Boland back after Hazlewood succumbs to calf strain

Scott Boland is the man to replace Josh Hazlewood in Australia’s starting XI again after Hazlewood finally succumbed to the calf strain that has been niggling at him from the start of the summer.

The straight swap – which we already saw earlier in this Border-Gavaskar Trophy series – means cult-hero Boland will get the chance to play in front of his home crowd in Melbourne in 2024. There’s an outside chance Jhye Richardson, who was also named in the squad, may instead play, though The Sporting Base understands that’s quite unlikely.

Richardson returns to the Aussie fold as part of the extended squad alongside Sean Abbott and Beau Webster.

Regardless of other quick options, Boland’s state coach and former Test opener Chris Rogers has tipped the 35-year-old to get the start too, explaining that “he [Boland] knows the conditions inside and out.”

“The interesting thing is knowing the length to keep the top of the stumps at play,” Rogers continued. “It feels like it suits him. His natural length seems to be perfect to hit the top of off and that makes it really difficult for batters. They get caught on the crease, it’s hard to drive and play off the back foot.

“The MCG is interesting because it can have tennis ball bounce. It can jump a little bit. To get it up there with a bit of sideways movement seems to suit him quite a lot.”

While Boland coming back to play at the ‘G – the scene of one of the most famous Test debuts with his iconic 6/7 in the 2021 Ashes – is of course a highlight, most eyes are actually on Nathan McSweeney (now dropped) and his replacement, Sam Konstas.

Konstas, still just 19, has been tapped on the shoulder to replace the struggling opener.

McSweeney has unfortunately withered under Jasprit Bumrah’s brutal attacks so far this series.

In response, the Australian Test selectors have turned to the next generation: Konstas. Should he play (and The Sporting Base is hearing he will) he’ll be the youngest batting debutant for the country in more than 70 years.

The 19-year-old – as of October 2 – has risen through the ranks very quickly in his first senior summer after shining bright at the Under 19 World Cup in South Africa. Particular standouts in his season thus far were 152 and 105 in New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield opener and 73* against India A in Melbourne earlier this month.

Australia vs. India continues with Test four on December 26. The series is balanced at 1-1.