Pat Cummins confirms Australia’s bowling attack for WTC Final

LONDON: Right-arm pacer Scott Boland will feature in the World Test Championship final as Australia captain Pat Cummins revealed his side’s bowling group for the big clash against India, starting on Wednesday at The Oval.

Scott Boland pipped Michael Neser, who was included in the Australian squad as a replacement for the injured Josh Hazlewood.

While Skipper Pat Cummins confirmed Boland’s selection, he did not name the complete playing XI which will take on India in the Final.

However, he expressed there will be “no surprises” in the playing XI which means Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Boland round out Australia’s pace attack while Nathan Lyon spearheads the spin department.

“Scott is a seam bowler on a good length, but he just offers something slightly different to Joshy Hazlewood, and Starcy being a left hander is bit different,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“In the past here in England, 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,” he 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.

“He’s had a few bowls over here now and has looked good. But he looks good whenever he bowls.”

The 34-year-old Boland has so far taken 28 wickets in his first seven Tests at an average of just 13.42. He made a remarkable start to his career during the last Ashes series in 2021-22 where he took 18 wickets.

Probable 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

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