AUS vs SA: Scott Boland Picked For Gabba Test, Pat Cummins Also Comes Back

As anticipated, Scott Boland will remain in Australia’s starting lineup for the opening Test match against South Africa, and Pat Cummins‘ comeback from injury has been officially announced. The selection was announced by Australia’s captain Cummins on Friday, with Boland keeping his spot and earning a fifth Test cap. 

As a result, after scoring 2-34 and 3-22 against the West Indies in Adelaide last week, two-Test player Michael Neser must make way. Neser and promising WA speedster Lance Morris join Josh Hazlewood, who is out due to a slight side strain. 

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Pat Cummins To Return To Captaincy

The top seven players for Australia are still the same, and David Warner is still not under any pressure. With Pat Cummins’ return, Steve Smith, who filled in as captain for the day-night game in Adelaide, will no longer hold that position. 

Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland 

The Gabba surface, which has a distinct green tint, appears to be favouring the quicks, with South Africa’s powerful pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, and Marco Jansen offering a considerably tougher test than the West Indies presented to the Australians in their 2-0 victory. 

First Test Match Between Australia And South Africa Since Sandpapergate Series

The first Test match between Australia and South Africa since the now-famous “Sandpapergate” series back in 2018 is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Gabba. 

The world was shocked when Cameron Bancroft, David Warner, who was vice-captain at the time, and then Steve Smith, who was held accountable as captain at the time, found themselves involved in a ball-tampering scandal during the third Test of the series in Cape Town. This incident is regarded as one of the darkest days in Australian cricket history.

After it was found that Bancroft had been using sandpaper hidden in his pants to intentionally change the condition of the ball in an effort to induce reverse swing, Cricket Australia (CA) came down hard on the three. 

Bancroft received a nine-month penalty, while Warner and Smith received 12-month punishments. Warner and Smith were both given lifelong leadership bans, with Smith’s term having already expired (he is now vice-captain and has already stood in as captain for Pat Cummins twice). 

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