Scott Boland, feeling fit, aims for WTC final: ‘I want to make the selectors’ job as tough as I can’

For the first time in eighteen months, Scott Boland reported that he is not feeling any discomfort in his body. When the selectors gather to choose Australia’s playing XI for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa, which kicks off on Wednesday, June 11 at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, the right-arm bowler hopes to give them a joyful headache. Scott Boland and Josh Hazlewood are vying for a position in the starting lineup, particularly because of doubts about the latter’s fitness following his collapses in his past two Test matches.

In the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Scott Boland, 36, won Player of the Match in his final Test match against India in Sydney.

The Men in Yellow fielded just one fast and three spinners in each of the two Test matches during the tour of Sri Lanka, and he was left out of the Australian side. Due to persistent knee pain, Scott Boland hasn’t played cricket since Victoria’s second-to-last Sheffield Shield match of the Australian domestic season in early March.

“I’m quite content with the way my body feels right now. For the first time in almost 18 months, I’m pain-free. According to ESPNcricinfo, Scott Boland said, “So it’s feeling really good.”

Getting my body and myself in a place where I can put my hand up and be prepared to go if it goes my way has likely been my goal for the past two months. My knee wasn’t wearing away, but it wasn’t going the way I wanted it to near the end of the Shield season, I think. I also didn’t feel like I was bowling as well as I would have liked. But right now, I feel like I’m in a great place where I can bowl the way I want to. I really want to make their decision as difficult as possible since it’s pulling up so beautifully,” he continued.

However, Boland praised Hazlewood’s skill and recognised his achievements to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

“I thought I played a few really good games. Josh, however, is undoubtedly a top bowler. After a fantastic IPL, he is among the world’s top bowlers. He will undoubtedly desire the same thing in this situation. We all want to play, of course, but there probably isn’t enough space for everyone,” Boland said.