England have delivered on their plans to go after Scott Boland, handing Australia’s favourite son the most difficult day of his Test career so far.
Close to being the world’s most economical bowler for the past 18 months, Boland went for more than a run a ball in his 1-86 off 14 overs on Friday at Edgbaston.
It came as England opened the Ashes with their free-wheeling Bazball approach on full display, declaring at 8-393 late on day one before Australia went to stumps on 0-14.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan had predicted in the lead up to the Ashes that the hosts would treat Boland like a spinner, desperate to pressure the quick if picked.
Vaughan was proven right on Friday, with Boland forcing his way into Australia’s full-strength attack after Mitchell Starc was left out.
England players even went to the extent of sometimes using their feet to the Victorian, while at one point wicketkeeper Alex Carey came up to the stumps to him.
Harry Brook played one of the shots of the day when he walked down the wicket and hit Boland for four through the covers.
Boland was somewhat unlucky, given he had Brook dropped later in the over at deep gully while trying to execute a clear plan to rid the right-hander.
He also bowled a good rising ball to remove Zak Crawley earlier in the day for 61, a crucial wicket given the opener had the power to take the game away from Australia.
But still, the way England handled Boland is a clear indication of the contempt they plan to treat bowlers with this series.
Boland was into his fourth innings and 36th over of in his Test career when he conceded his 86th run in Test cricket against England in the 2021-22 Ashes series.
By that point, the Victorian had already taken 11 wickets and sent down 13 maidens.
On Friday he conceded 86 runs in 14 overs with England not letting him settle at all and centurion Joe Root even reverse-ramping him for six at one stage.
England star Jonny Bairstow his side had made the pitch seem like a difficult one for bowlers with the way the team had pressured Australia.
“We went about it in our way that didn’t enable the Australian bowlers to settle,” Bairstow said.
“Hopefully with the skillset our guys have and the lengths and lines our guys have, we are able to exploit different things.”
© AAP
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