Hometown hero Scott Boland has demonstrated his readiness for the Boxing Day Test with a zippy session in the MCG nets on Christmas morning.
Boland, who felt some soreness in his hip after the match at Adelaide Oval, had been on light duties since returning to Melbourne ahead of Boxing Day.
When discussing the series on Wednesday, Boland said he had overcome the problem and sent down some deliveries in the nets in tandem with off-spinner Todd Murphy to opener Jake Weatherald.
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It is set to be the heaviest workload in an Australian summer for Boland, who played the 2nd, 4th and 5th Tests last summer against India due to the injury suffered by Josh Hazlewood.
With the New South Welshman missing the full summer, and captain Pat Cummins and off-spinner Nathan Lyon also sidelined, Boland brings experience alongside star quick Mitchell Starc.
The Tasmanian was first into the nets on a morning more familiar for a winter’s day in the state he represents in domestic cricket, with the skies grey and the temperature a brisk 13C, than an Aussie summer.
The wind whipped from the south across Melbourne Park, bringing a proper North Pole vibe, but that did not stop Marnus Labuschagne from batting in a sleeveless Cricket Australia jumper as he received wangers from Aussie coach Andrew McDonald.
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The Aussies, who had their main session on Wednesday, had only a light period in the nets.
Michael Neser, Brendan Doggett and comeback quick Jhye Richardson are vying for the last two spots in the attack after the Australians opted for an all-pace approach and Boland is certain whoever is called on will perform well.
“I think it shows the strength we’ve got, that we’ve got three really good guys who can come in and we know they can do the job,” said Boland.
“I’m sure whoever plays will be keen to make their mark. ‘Ness’ bowled really well (in Brisbane) and got five wickets, then unfortunately, got left out last game.
“‘Doggy’ has done really well in the games he’s played so far. We’re all hungry to keep performing and none of us are really guaranteed a spot when we’re at full strength, so we just want to keep putting our best foot forward as much as we can.”
A joy of the Christmas Day nets on this occasion was the rare opportunity to witness the two rivals sharing a nets session together.
Australian captain Steve Smith said it was once commonplace but the combined session has not occurred in the recent series against Pakistan or India.
“On Christmas morning it’s usually a pretty quiet session,” Smith said.
“A couple of guys, mainly the batters, just come down and hit a couple of balls, and then get out of here and enjoy the festivities of the day.
“I know Travis Head is looking forward to lunch and he gets stuck into the prawns. He’ll have more than everyone, I can assure you.
“It’s going to be a cool day with all the families around and then we’ll get ready for a sell out tomorrow here. It’s going to be an amazing atmosphere and (we’re) looking forward to that.”
England’s captain Ben Stokes spent a good 45 minutes receiving throwdowns before picking up the ball himself to send some down to Harry Brook, who was wearing a Santa hat in the infancy of his time in the nets.
Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell, who have been in the headlines for their revelry in Noosa between the Brisbane and Adelaide Tests, batted at the same time.
Bethell, who will make his Ashes debut at No.3 in place of Ollie Pope, faced spinner-in-exile Shoaib Bashir along with throwdowns.
The left-handed unleashed with some powerful drives off the off-spinner, with the ball sounding like a pistol firing when coming off the bat.
The English team later gathered in the middle of the MCG with their families and exchanged Christmas gifts, while the kids in attendance took the chance to enjoy some backyard cricket on the hallowed turf.
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