‘No fear’: Boland waves off Poms greats’ criticism, backs himself to play every Ashes Test if needed

Scott Boland believes he has developed the tools to manage a Bazball onslaught during the Ashes and has given short shrift to recent criticism from English greats including Mike Atherton and Stuart Broad.

The Victorian star also declared he is feeling the best he has all year after a couple of Sheffield Shield outings and is confident of being able to feature in all five Tests if required during the summer.

It comes as Steve Smith, who will be Australian captain should Pat Cummins miss a Test against England, branded Boland one of the world’s best bowlers and that the hosts will be lacking for nothing should the premier reserve play all summer.

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Boland, who was speaking at the MCG on Tuesday after confirmation the MCC Foundation will deliver the National Indigenous Cricket Championships and a training camp at the ground for three more years, cannot wait for the Ashes.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited by what’s coming up this summer. Every summer that comes up, I want to be in the team and playing a part,” he said.

“I’m still happy being 12th man if I do miss out, because I know I’m next in line if something does happen, or if they want a change of change of bowler, or if they want to play four quicks, which probably won’t happen in Australia. But there’s nothing better than being in the Australian squad for a test something like this.”

Boland has a brilliant record in Test cricket but was targetted by the English during the 2023 Ashes when conceding 231 runs while taking just two wickets in matches in Leeds and Birmingham.

That prompted Atherton to declare that Boland presents “no fear” to the English top order, with the Victorian noting on the weekend his cousin had sent the comments to him “when taking the piss”.

While Australia is yet to select its squad for the Ashes – it is due at the end of the month that Fox Cricket analyst Brendon Julian believes the announcement should be delayed to allow further time for players to shine – Broad was also on the front foot when saying it would be the worst team to represent the country since the 2010/11 series won by England.

“I said the other day that all the past players are going to come out and have their opinion. So they can do that. We are just going to concentrate on our cricket,” Boland said.

Quizzed as to whether he had learned from his experiences in England and whether he had something to prove, Boland said he knows he has not got the “bounce that Hazlewood does, or Pat does, or the pace of Starcy”.

But he is a “proud cricketer” who prides himself on his accuracy and he has continued to develop as a bowler since that trip to the United Kingdom two years ago, which started with an excellent performance in the World Test Championship final.

Boland, who took eight wickets against New South Wales in his most recent Sheffield Shield outing, pointed to the game against the Blues as an example showing he can reel in opposition batters even if they hold the upper hand for a period.

“It’s not really me showing my skills against them. It’s probably more (that) I believe in my skills. So it’s just me wanting to put out a really good performance,” he said.

“I’m a proud cricketer. I want to put in my best performance every time I can. So that’s probably the main thing.

“I know that there’s going to be spells where, even the other day, I was going at five to six an over, (but) I think I’m getting better at managing my mind around all that stuff.

“Sometimes, when you’re used to going in Shield games … at two an over, you look up and you are going at five or six, it’s a bit different, so I think it’s just about managing those emotions. I think I did it pretty well the other day and was able to fight back and bowl one really good spell.”

Speaking in Sydney after returning to Australia from New York, Smith expressed confidence that Boland, who has taken 62 wickets in 14 Tests at an average of 16.53, would deliver if required this summer.

“We’ve got a pretty good replacement in Scott Boland, who I think is arguably one of the best bowlers in the world,” he said.

“His record in Australia is outrageous. We’re good there. I don’t think it disrupts too much, I suppose, (if Cummins misses). We’re lucky to have Scotty there ready to go.”