The debutant Scott Boland has etched his name in the record books as he bowled a magical spell where he scalped six wickets in a span of four overs while conceding just seven runs in England's second innings to help Australia bowl out the visitors for 68 and win the third Test by an innings and 14 runs on Tuesday (December 28).
With this, Boland has emulated the feat of the quickest five-wicket haul in Test cricket in terms of balls bowled. He took just 19 balls to complete his five-for. Australia's Ernie Toschak and England's Stuart Broad are the other bowlers to have taken five wickets in an innings in 19 balls.
The 68-all out for England was their lowest in Australia after 117 years. In 1904, they were bowled out for 61 and it happened at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Test match lasted for 1084 balls which was the lowest in a Test in Australia after 70 years. However, the lead of 82 and still losing by an innings put England in an inglorious company. Only three times prior to England’s capitulation has a team lost by an innings despite a lead of under 100. Here are the other instances.
Boland became only the second Indigenous community to play a men’s Test match on Sunday, taking a wicket on debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Boland, who was named the Sheffield Shield Player of the year by Cricket Australia in 2019, followed in the footsteps of Jason Gillespie who played his last Test in 2006.
Player of the Match Scott Boland got the Mullagh Medal in a hugely significant moment which was acknowledged by a huge cheer around the ground.
"Coming here today, though we had a good chance. Found out on Christmas Eve, told some family and friends. Thought it was going to be really tough, a big step up. Hoping to make a little bit of an impact. Like to thank the crowd for all the support, really appreciate it. There were about 17 of us who went away a few year to commemorate the 1868 tour, very proud to win this award," Boland said after the glory.
Boland added one more feather on his cap as he bowled with a strike rate of 14.5 in the third Ashes Test - the third best strike rate by any player in their Test debut (A. Dananjaya - 11.2 for Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh in February 2018 & N. Hirwani - 12.6 for India vs West Indies in January 1988).
