‘Pretty keen to test my skills in England’ – Scott Boland ahead of WTC final

Australia pacer Scott Boland has expressed that he keen to test his red-ball skills in England ahead of the crucial Word Test Championship 2021-23 Final and the Ashes 2023. Notably, India and Australia are gearing to lock horns for the one-off Test slated to begin on June 7 at the Oval in London.

Ahead of the eagerly-anticipated match, the 34-year-old is optimistic of his chances to feature in the Australian team despite having played only seven Tests thus far. The Victorian quick further acknowledged that winning the coveted mace would be a solid start to the winter for the Aussies.

“Over the last two years we’ve played such good cricket and finished on top of the World Test Championship. It’s a big game that could hopefully kick-start a big winter for us. I’ve played seven games and still think I’m going to get better,” Boland was quoted as saying by ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’.

“I’m pretty keen to test my skills in England. It’s somewhere very different. I was lucky enough to play in India. Even though conditions didn’t really suit me, I felt I went alright for the game I played,” he added.

In seven matches, Boland has got 28 wickets with best figures of 6/7 against England in 2021. The 34-year-old last featured in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February wherein he went wicketless on a Nagpur pitch that offered little assistance to seamers. 

Following the conclusion of the WTC Final, Australia will engage against arch-rivals England in the Ashes 2023. Boland further voiced his stance on reports of English skipper Ben Stokes requesting ‘fast, flat wickets’ for the upcoming Ashes to suit their game. However, he added that the Aussies would be up for the challenge as they are accustomed to flat surfaces back at home.

“They (England) can certainly make them flat. I’m not sure if they can make them fast. I think it’s a bit of a smokescreen. I’m sure our batters are going to be licking their lips if they rock up to England and there are flat pitches. Everyone is going to be ready,” he added.