Image Credit- AP
In their seventh
summer encounter, Australia will likely field an unchanged side for the fourth
Test in a row and an unchanged bowling unit, with backup fast Scott Boland
probably being sent home to play Sheffield Shield cricket for Victoria on
Monday.
Australia’s projected lineup for the second Test against New Zealand at Hagley
Oval, which begins on Friday, was confirmed by captain Pat Cummins. With the
win in Wellington, Australia hopes to seal the series 2-0.
Monday marks the start of the last round of Shield matches. Victoria will host
Western Australia at the Junction Oval in Melbourne, where they will have an
opportunity to advance to their third consecutive final.
With Matt Renshaw as
the lone backup hitter in the 14-man touring party, Boland and Michael Neser
are the two backup quicks on the road. In the event of a concussion, Australia
may need to carry one extra batter and one extra bowler in the team, although
they may also opt to release one of the quicks to participate in the Shield.
Neser’s return would not be necessary for Queensland to attempt to qualify as
they are already eliminated from the final.
Boland is probably going to be released on Friday after the toss in order to
head back home and get ready to play 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 prevented Mitchell Starc from playing in the opening Ashes
Test at Edgbaston and was the star of Australia’s World Test Championship final
in June of last year. However, in the two Ashes Tests he played, England
attacked him, and in the remaining two Tests, Australia went back to playing a
huge three-for-three.
In order to be fresh for the Tests, Australia’s selectors requested that Boland
be rested for certain Shield matches at the beginning of the summer. They had a
legitimate fear that one of Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, or Mitchell Starc might
not be fit following a demanding ODI World Cup campaign. However, the trio has
survived, and Boland has only played five games for the season as a result.
There are concerns
around the batting group with some frank discussions held internally during the
week about being more ruthless and accountable to individual plans.
“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.”