Melbourne’s cult cricket hero Scott Boland again swung a Test match at his favourite MCG today say Ken Piesse.
Evergreen Scott Boland added an extra chapter to his extraordinary story as Australia headed for a 2-1 series lead approaching the New Year Test in Sydney.
His dismissals of champion Indian pair Virat Kohli (yesterday) and Rishabh Pant guaranteed a sizeable Australian lead as the lunchtime crowd swelled past 70,000 in anticipation of another dare-devil display from debutant opener Sam Konstas on Day 3.
Even the threat of a rain delay later in the afternoon failed to deter the walk-ups as the match attendance swelled to almost 250,000, an unprecedented mark for an Australia-India Test match. The queues to get into the Bullring, a long-time favourite watering hole for MCC members were 40-50 metres long at the lunch break. Ten-ounce Beers were costing up to $16 each as caterers cashed in on many a thirst.
Boland’s dismissal of master playmaker Pant was inspired. The little left hander was set and threatening and captain Pat Cummins had multiple outriders even for Boland, a renowned MCG specialist. Two fieldsmen patrolled the hook and Nathan Lyon was at a very narrow fly slip, just on the boundary line for Pant’s favourite ramp.
Pant was hit smack on the belly button by a Boland short one he tried to smash into the member’s stand.
Changing to around the wicket, Boland again pitched short of a length, again on a fourth stump line and Pant, an inveterate hooker, top edged the ball high and straight to Lyon, superbly positioned only metres from the member’s sightscreen. It was a masterly plan from the Australians which paid a handsome dividend.
Pant has averaged under 30 in this series after dominating previous campaigns.
Cummins alternated himself, Mitchell Starc and Boland in four and five-over spells from the Shane Warne end, with offspinner Nathan Lyon operating exclusively from the member’s end.
Batting allrounder Nittish Reddy, one of his team’s most successful middle-order players, continued to defy the Aussies, approching a half century for the first time after near misses in the opening two Tests in Perth and Adelaide.
Lyon has had a quiet series and little bowling so far but was rewarded when a slider caught Ravindra Jadeja plumb in front as the Australians continued to dominate.
Boland was greeted with a standing ovation when returned to the crease in mid afternoon. There were calls to ‘Build the man a statue’, a reminder of commentator Mark Howard’s famous call when Boland took six for 7 on his remarkable mature-age debut in the corresponding Test against England three years ago.
From a vastly overweight 18-year-old trialing at Frankston Heat to an MCG favourite it has been a remarkable journey for Boland now 35 and still in superb bowling form.
Cummins preferred Travis Head as his fifth bowler, No.1 allrounder Mitchell Marsh consigning to fielding duties within the ring. He bowled just three overs on Day 2 and his place may be in jeopardy for the Sydney Test with Beau Webster prime among his potential replacements.
India has won the last two series downunder but seem set to relinquish their lead coming to Sydney and the decider.
KEN PIESSE has covered cricket and football for more than 30 years in Melbourne. Despite that setback, Ken has written, published and edited 86 books on cricket and AFL football to become Australian sport’s most prolific author.
His latest cricket book is his own memoir, Living the Dream, 60 years in cricket and football with Wilkinson Publishing, out now.
www.cricketbooks.com.au
Discussion about this post