Scott Boland: Supremely talented, supremely unlucky with his next appearance in Tests for Australia remains unclear.
After adding a Test hat-trick to his incredible late-career surge since his historic 2021 Boxing Day debut, Scott Boland may be able to claim the title of Australia’s unluckiest cricket player ever.
Boland, who is statistically the finest Test bowler in almost a century, became just the tenth Australian to take a hat-trick in Jamaica on Monday.
His haul was part of a historic day for the tourists, who won by 176 runs and swept the Frank Worrell Trophy 3-0 after bowling the West Indies out for just 27.
For the first time in twelve years, Boland upheld the selectors’ decision to go with four quicks and leave out a fit Nathan Lyon, despite Mitchell Starc being the major destroyer with a 6 for 9 up front.
Boland later joked about who might get the match ball. “There was talk of cutting it in half,” he told reporters. “100 Tests and 400 wickets. He can have it.”
By being picked, Boland became the only paceman in the last 60 years to play for Australia after turning 36, joining Glenn McGrath.
Boland has played just 14 Test matches for a hat-trick, 6 for 7 on his 2021 debut, and a 10-wicket match haul in Sydney last summer out of Australia’s 39 Test matches since his 2021 debut. As a result, Starc declared the seamer to be among the unluckiest men to have ever worn the Baggy Green.
“He would have played so many more Test matches in another team,” Starc said. “But every time he comes in he is on the money, like we saw this week. He is never far from the perfect length.
“He is preparing all the time to play, and this week he got his opportunity and showed what a wonderful Test bowler he is.”
It’s unknown when Boland’s next test will take place. Boland has only ever been selected ahead of Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins, who consistently maintain top billing in Australia’s squad, according to selectors.
This summer’s Ashes final three Test matches will take place over a 23-day period, which might allow Boland to enter the game if one of the big three is rested.
Despite having the sixth-highest bowling average in Test history (minimum 50 wickets) at 16.53 and the greatest of any bowler in the last century, he could have to wait again.