English cricket legend Michael Vaughan has issued seamer Scott Boland with a big Ashes warning, declaring he will be targeted by a “Bazball” barrage in the first Test.
Boland is the clear-cut favourite to take Pat Cummins’ position in the Australian XI, joining a star-studded bowling cartel that includes Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
According to Vaughan, who won an Ashes series as captain in 2005, Boland does suit the Perth conditions and could be a dangerous threat to the English top-order.
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In a bid to dampen his ability, “Bazball” could be out in full force.
“Of all the venues, Pat [Cummins] was undercooked last year in Perth and, probably for the first time, was not that great in Perth against India last year,” Vaughan said to The Age on Monday.
“I guess, of all the venues, if you’re going to leave Pat out, Perth is not a bad venue.
“It brings in Scott Boland, a star bowler who hits the stumps, very similar to what we saw from Jasprit Bumrah last year – that skiddy kind of trajectory.
“Of all the venues, I think Boland’s going to suit Perth. He’s going to hit that length, and the question is how England counteracts that. I think they’ll probably go at him.
“We’ll try to knock him off his balance and probably run at him and try to hit him, which comes with a great deal of danger.
“I’m intrigued to see how the England batters play Scotty Boland. Sometimes the underdog, the under-statesman, comes out on top, and Boland’s got 49 wickets at 12 apiece in Australia.”
Boland has been the perfect man to slot into the Test XI since earning his baggy green in the 2021 Boxing Day Test against England at the MCG.
In his 14 Tests, the Victorian cult hero has taken 62 wickets at an average of 16.53, with his only major hiccup coming against the Poms in the 2023 Ashes series.
In two appearances at Leeds and Birmingham, he took only two wickets and was belted for 231 runs.
Meanwhile, Vaughan was tipping an unheralded quick to be the difference for England and re-gain the Ashes for the first time since Australia’s series win in 2017.
“Everyone will be talking about Jofra Archer and Mark Wood … but Josh Tongue can have an impact,” Vaughan said.
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“Tongue’s been great for England in the summer. And he bowled well against Australia in 2023 in one game. He’s got an awkward action. A square-on, front-on action.
“He gets them down at a decent length, so Josh Tongue’s a bowler who could have a huge amount of success here.
“Josh Tongue has bowled well in England on most pitches, but he should suit the extra bounce in Perth. You can get the ball moving around.
“He’s very, very good against left-handers. The Australians are potentially going to have five in their 11, so you’ll fancy going to the left hand.”
Tongue has taken 31 wickets in six Tests, having made his debut against Ireland in 2023.
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