BGT 2024-25: Boland Confident Ahead of Second Test Against India
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Canberra, Nov 30 (NationPress) Australia fast-bowler Scott Boland expressed his confidence after gaining sufficient cricket experience, positioning himself to make a significant impact in the upcoming second Test against India at Adelaide. With fast-bowler Josh Hazlewood sidelined due to a side strain, Boland is a prime candidate for selection.
"I may not have played a lot of cricket at the start of this season, but I feel that I have enough experience under my belt to be in a great position. My body feels good now. I’ve dealt with a few niggles that were initially concerning, but my knee and foot are in excellent shape, and I'm confident about my bowling performance," said Boland.
"Our last net session in Perth was focused on pink ball practice for several overs with Josh Inglis. Getting used to the ball then will be beneficial, and the overs we can put in tomorrow, given the weather, will also be valuable," he added.
“On Monday in Adelaide, we will have normal preparations leading up to the game. I plan to bowl well two days prior and get ready to play,” Boland told reporters after the first day of the tour match between India and the Prime Minister’s XI was washed out due to rain at Manuka Oval on Saturday.
The pink-ball match in Adelaide is critical for Australia, aiming to level the five-match series after their defeat to India by 295 runs in Perth. Boland, who last participated in a Test in July 2023, acknowledged the need for Australia to reassess their strategy but believes that drastic changes are unnecessary for the Adelaide game.
"There’s definitely no panic in our changing rooms. We will have conversations about individual performances, as everyone aims to excel in every game they play. But we've lost just one match. It’s not the end of the world, in my opinion," he stated.
"As a team, we've discussed our strategies against various Indian batters. I won’t disclose specifics, but we have well-defined plans. They might be slightly adjusted after our observations from Perth, especially considering how well Yashasvi Jaiswal performed there," he mentioned.
“KL Rahul also showed great resilience in the second innings. We’ll likely have discussions over the next week, and our strategies might be refined, but I trust that what we executed in the first game was effective," he concluded.
"Our bowlers performed admirably as well. Perhaps the only distinction was that the Indian bowlers had a longer break between their first and second innings, while our interval was shorter," he wrapped up.
