Australia will field an unchanged side for the fourth Test in a row, as well as an unchanged bowling quartet for the seventh match of the summer, with back-up fast Scott Boland expected to return home to play Sheffield Shield cricket for Victoria on Monday.
Captain Pat Cummins confirmed Australia’s likely lineup for the second Test against New Zealand, which begins on Friday at Hagley Oval, as they try to win the series 2-0 following their success in Wellington.
The last round of Shield matches begins on Monday, with Victoria hosting Western Australia at Melbourne’s Junction Oval for a chance to advance to a third consecutive final.
Boland and Michael Neser are the two backup pitchers on tour, with Matt Renshaw the only spare batter in the 14-man squad. Australia will need to carry at least one spare batsman and bowler on the roster in case of a concussion, although one of the quicks might be released to play in the Shield. Queensland are out of the running for the final and would not require Neser to return to try to qualify.
Boland is expected to be released after the toss on Friday, returning home to prepare to face Western Australia.
“There was talk of maybe sending Scotty back for Victoria but holding Nes back from Queensland just to annoy Marnus [Labuschagne] and Usman [Khawaja],” Cummins said. “I did hear the back end of that conversation the other day.”
Boland has had a rough summer. He was the star of Australia’s World Test Championship final in June of last year, keeping Mitchell Starc out of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. However, England attacked him in the two Ashes Tests he played, and Australia went three for three in the final two Tests.
Boland was rested for particular Shield matches at the start of the summer at the request of Australia’s selectors in order to be fresh for the Tests, since there was genuine concern that one of Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, or Mitchell Starc might get injured following a tough ODI World Cup campaign. However, the trio emerged unhurt, and as a result, Boland has only played five first-class matches this season.
“I think I said at the start of the summer I’d be surprised we played all seven just because it’s rare that something doesn’t pop up,” Cummins said. “But thankfully we’ve all kind of managed all the little niggles that pop up pretty well. I think even the schedule this summer seems to be just when you need a week’s break, there was a week’s break in between Test matches.
“Obviously it’s been a long summer but we all still feel like we’ve got a fair bit of freshness about us. We’re not limping over the line. I still feel like we’re in a great position. I wouldn’t have thought we’d be here a couple of months ago.”
While Australia appears settled, there is some concern about the second Test. Australia blew 1-0 leads against Sri Lanka in 2022 and the West Indies at home last month due to poor performances in the second match of each series.
There are concerns about the batting group, with some open discussions done internally this week about being harsher and more accountable to individual objectives.
“I think it’s just decision-making around plans, and having really clear plans,” Cummins said. “It doesn’t mean you need to have 12 shot options. It might only be two or three. But you’re building innings around that. I think Greeny was a great example. For all his big shots last week, he also showed a lot of restraint at times.
“So just managing that tempo, having a really clear game plan and just living and dying by that. There have been a lot of conversations. A lot of guys working in the nets just to have a think about that.”
For the latest updates and comprehensive coverage on this developing story, visit CricAdvisor – your ultimate cricket companion.
