Pat Cummins explains why Scott Boland is dropped from 1st Test vs Bangladesh just months after starring in Ashes originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:- Pat Cummins picks Josh Hazlewood over Scott Boland for Bangladesh Test opener.
- Australia's Nathan Lyon returns after an Ashes-ending hamstring injury.
- Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Alex Carey lock in the middle order; Carey stays at No.6.
Australia's pace-bowling pecking order remains unchanged heading into their opening Test against Bangladesh in Darwin, with Josh Hazlewood retaining his spot ahead of Scott Boland despite the latter's standout performance during the recent Ashes series.
The lineup is Australia's preferred attack, which will be playing together for the first time since their tour of the West Indies more than a year ago.
Hazlewood himself hasn't featured in international cricket since last October, having missed the entirety of the Ashes campaign through injury, while Pat Cummins has made just a single Test appearance against England since that West Indies tour. Nathan Lyon also returns to the fold, having had his own Ashes campaign cut short by a hamstring injury sustained during the Adelaide Test.
Cummins acknowledged that it was a tight call to leave out Boland.
"I think we were pretty certain we wanted Lyno [Lyon] inside, so just kind of working out what the make-up of the quicks were," Cummins said.
"So went with Joshy, [we] obviously know Scotty's class. It's always a pretty tight call. I think it's one of those ones where there's not much you can say to Scotty other than obviously there's a lot of cricket coming up, but he knows his worth and how good he is, and I'm sure he'll be out there at some point pretty soon."
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Cummins was delighted at having Lyon back available, especially given the veteran spinner's crucial role in helping Australia secure the Ashes during that memorable Adelaide Test before the injury sidelined him.
"I was even looking at some footage the other day of that Adelaide Test, and I think that's the best he's bowled in years," Cummins said.
"So it [the injury] was really bad timing, but he's been great. It's been pretty public how hard he's worked over the last six months or so. He's in there every day training, looking for this opportunity. So he looks in incredible shape. He's been bowling beautifully, and as a captain and team-mate, it's going to be awesome to have him back out there."
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Getty ImagesMiddle order settles with Green and Webster around CareyAustralia's middle order will see Cameron Green and Beau Webster come out on either side of Alex Carey. While Jake Weatherald will continue opening alongside Travis Head, after a successful Ashes series.
Despite Carey wanting to bat higher up the order, Cummins confirmed he would remain at his familiar No. 6 position.
"Kez has won a few games for us at No. 6. I like that combination of him and Webster at six, seven," Cummins said. "I feel like Greeny's a good No. 5, so you can try and get funky, but we thought that's kind of how the team will function the best. It's a pretty good problem to have when someone like Kez, you feel like a good bat even higher than where he's at."
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Australia playing XI for first Test against Bangladesh at Darwin- Jake Weatherald
- Travis Head
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Steven Smith
- Cameron Green
- Alex Carey (wk)
- Beau Webster
- Mitchell Starc
- Pat Cummins (capt)
- Nathan Lyon
- Josh Hazlewood
It is a no-brainer to stick to the first-choice pace trio that has been prevented from playing together over the past year due to injuries. Boland's Ashes performances were undoubtedly impressive, but rushing to disrupt a settled combination is a risk, better not taken when the goal should be building rhythm across a demanding Test calendar.
Keeping Lyon central to the plans also reflects sound thinking. His Adelaide spell ranks among his best in years, and giving him full support upon his return shows the utmost faith that the team management has in his abilities.
The bigger challenge for Cummins going forward will be managing rotation fairly across a long home summer, ensuring bowlers like Boland aren't sidelined indefinitely simply because the incumbent attack happens to be fully fit at the same time.
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