That Could Conceivably Be The Last Test He Plays - Ricky Ponting On Scott Boland

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting feels that although Scott Boland put a memorable display with the ball in the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, it could be the last Test that the 32-year-old has played for Australia.

Scott Boland was on fire in the second innings as his sensational figures of 6/7 skittled the England batting for just 68, thereby helping Australia retain the Ashes. However. Boland had got into the playing XI only after an injury to Josh Hazlewood and pacers Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser being sore after the Adelaide Test.

Speaking to cricket.com.au, here is what Ricky Ponting had to say: “That could conceivably be the last Test that he plays. It’s staggering to think. He’s almost 33, he’s just taken six for seven. Hoff (Hazlewood) has got to come back, Jhye’s probably ahead of him in the pecking order as well.”

Ponting feels that if there comes a time where Australia need to choose between Jhye Richardson and Scott Boland, the latter will need to miss out. Richardson had picked up his maiden fifer in Tests at Adelaide and would have definitely played ahead of Boland in Melbourne had he been fully fit.

“If there’s any worry at all with (Hazlewood) – which one do they pick out of Richardson and Boland? That’s going to be the big selection point I think. If Hoff’s not available, I think you’ve got to go back to Jhye.

“In the pecking order of things, he was selected before Boland for Adelaide – I think that’s the fair thing to do. It wasn’t like Jhye bowled badly in Adelaide either, he got five wickets in the second innings. On the pecking order, it probably deserves to be Jhye, but it would be harsh on Scotty,” Ricky Ponting added.

It is a dream come true – Scott Boland

Scott Boland couldn’t believe his luck after dishing out a sensational Man of the Match performance for Australia on debut.

Here is what he had to say after the game: “It is a dream come true. I didn’t think anything like that would ever happen. I’m just really lucky, I think. I’ve been mobbed by my family and teammates. It’s just been a whirlwind.

“Can’t really believe (what has happened). We thought we had a chance of winning today when we came in, but just not so quickly,” Boland added.

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