Just ahead of the WTC final, Australia skipper Pat Cummins announced that speedster Scott Roland will be taking part in the final against India beginning at The Oval on Wednesday. The Kangaroos have also included Michael Neser to their 15-man squad moments after pacer Josh Hazlewood was ruled out with a side strain and an Achilles issue.
“We’re big on everyone bowling slightly differently,” Cummins told reporters on the eve of the match. Scotty is a seam bowler on a good length, but he just offers something slightly different to Josh Hazlewood, and Starcy being a left-hander is a bit different”, Cummins said.
“I don’t think there’s ever a pecking order. You think about the three guys that you want to go out and play.”
Boland has taken 28 wickets in the seven Tests he played with a commendable average of 13.42.
“Because the ball does talk a little more, I’ve seen players get too caught up in trying to take wickets every ball because you’ve suddenly got the ball swinging and seaming,” Cummins added.
“Someone like Scotty, it’s just a really simple game plan – you hit your good areas and you stay there all day and hopefully the ball will do the work for you.”
Earlier, star pacer Josh Hazlewood was ruled out because of an injury from India vs Australia World Test Championship Final, and Cricket Australia then roped in Michael Neser, who has played two Tests so far.
The 32-year-old swing bowler has taken part in four Tests for Australia due to a series of injuries in the last three years. In the recently conducted IPL 2023, Hazlewood was seen struggling with his injuries and as a result, he was ruled out from the cash-rich league as well after playing in just three games for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.