Australia captain Pat Cummins confirmed the Baggy Greens' pace attack for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India one day before the marquee final kicks off at The Oval. Cummins confirmed that Scott Boland has received the nod ahead of Michael Neser, who was included in the squad in place of Josh Hazlewood.
"We're big on kind of everyone bowling slightly differently," Cummins told reporters, as quoted by Cricket.com.au.
"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.
"So I don't think there's ever a pecking order. You think about the three guys that you want to go out and play," he added.
The right-arm pacer has played just seven Tests during his career but will partner skipper Pat Cummins and fellow pacer Mitchell Starc for the WTC final. Boland has taken 28 wickets at an imposing average of 13.42 in his Test career so far.
Cummins underlined what Boland needs to do for Australia in the WTC final. The Aussie captain wants Boland to focus on his skillset and not delve into trying extra.
"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," said Cummins.
"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."
Two of the top-ranked teams - India and Australia - will square off in the second edition of the World Test Championship final at a neutral venue, making the contest even more compelling. If you look at the record of India at The Oval, the team has played 14 matches at the venue since 1936. India have managed to win just two games while losing five contests. On the flip side, Australia have played 38 matches at The Oval and could manage to win just seven contests.
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