The Ashes. Australia v. England.

[Pies4shaw]

Boland finishes the second innings with 4 overs, 1 maiden, 6/7 - he slumped a little at the end, with Anderson facing his last 3 balls, taking 2 runs and keeping out the other two.

[PyreneesPie]

Wow!!! We just witnessed something absolutely extraordinary in cricket history!!!!!!
Boland 6/7 simply unbelievable!!!!!

[Donny]

Incredible.

Thought I must've been still dreaming, after a good sleep-in.

Went online to see if England had actually got to the lead and were batting well. Nope. It was true.

Scotty had taken 6/7 !!

Absolute dream debut for him.

[K]

Boland: ... has an enviable record at the MCG which, until recent seasons, had a reputation for being a bowlers' graveyard.

The 32-year-old's record of 91 wickets at 25.71 in 26 first-class games at the 'G is impressive given most of his matches there have been on docile, unresponsive surfaces.

Pat Cummins suggested those numbers were a "huge part" of Boland's selection.

CA.

Yup. Cummins sorta said Boland's been picked 'cos he has the capacity to bowl 50 overs.

Not a great start from Boland yesterday... But let's see what the second innings brings...
...

Wowee. 6 for 7.

[K]

Some atrocious batting from both sides this Test.

They're just not up to Test standard.

Many Oz dismissals yesterday were very soft. The batsmen should look at how Cummins and Starc batted. Cummins and Starc looked at ease against the second new ball. In the end, I reckon Cummins sorta threw his wicket away...

Marnus, Smith, Head, Carey... all very soft dismissals.

[K]

...
Hameed's very lucky to still be in the team. But they dropped Burns and need someone to open!!

"Haseeb Hameed, 24, who played three Tests as a 19-year-old before being recalled during the northern summer, was caught behind for a duck to begin another procession.

He is the ninth regular opening batter England have used since their last underwhelming Ashes tour began four years ago. In that time England have sent an opening pair to the wicket 59 times for just two century opening partnerships.

But this is far from an England problem. During the same period eight different Australian openers have begun 47 innings for six century partnerships leading into this Test.
...

Warner has been the aberration among openers for much of the last decade, with 7513 runs at an average of 48 going into this Test. It could be argued that his scores of 94 and 95 in the first innings of the first two Tests were two of the most important contributions in the series.
...

As ugly and unconvincing as Burns’ batting stance may be, he appeared England’s best chance of setting up a good foundation on this tour."

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket ... 59k7e.html

David Warner's opening partners in Tests
Phil Hughes
Ed Cowan
Glenn Maxwell
Chris Rogers
Shane Watson
Shaun Marsh
Joe Burns
Matt Renshaw
Usman Khawaja
Cameron Bancroft
Marcus Harris
Will Pucovski

(from Swamp)

[Donny]

"Boland finished his long-hoped-for entry to Test cricket with the extraordinary second innings figures of 6-7 from four overs to deservedly (and symbolically) claim the Johnny Mullagh Medal as player of the match.

It was the best debut bowling at the MCG since Test cricket was born there in 1877, and represented a triumph for the 32-year-old who on Boxing Day became just the second man of Indigenous descent to represent Australia at Test level after former fast bowler Jason Gillespie."

CA.

[Donny]

More on the incredible Boland debut.

"Mark Wood bunted a return catch to Boland to complete the debutant's five-for which equalled Stuart Broad's famed Trent Bridge spell as the fastest five-wicket haul (19 balls) in Test history.

At that stage Boland had 5-5, which became 6-5 two balls later when Ollie Robinson nicked to third slip."

CA.

[Donny]

The Sydney Test.

Who'd want to be a selector ?

With the top 5 bats and Carey assured of a gig, let's look at the attack.

Cummins, Starc & Lyon must play.

That leaves Hazlewood, Richardson, Green, and Boland to take the last 2 spots. Which 2 would you leave out ?

There's also the intriguing prospect of Mitchell Swepson. He's still in the Oz Test squad and has long been mentioned as Lyon's spin partner for the SCG Test. If this transpires, and Haz is fully recovered, which other quick would miss out ?

[Jezza]

Fantastic test debut by Boland. Stoked for him.

England are hopeless. Never seen them be this consistently poor.

[Donny]

Scott Boland. After 1 Test.

Best bowling 7/55

Average: 7.85

R.p.o.: 3.23

Strike rate: 14.5

And may not be selected for the next Test.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

The Boxing days test was the shortest test from the last 80 years was only 2 days and half a session long.

Shortest that i can remember.

To win by an innings and your first innings total is 280 something is also amazing.

[Lazza]

Yeah I don’t get that at all. It will be like when Dirk Wellham missed selection after scoring a century on debut! Surely your last performance must count when selecting players on form? It will be unreal if Boland is cast aside for the next test.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

267 is the lowest first innings total to win by an innings in test match cricket for at least the last 60 years
englands 68 is their lowest total in Australia since 1904 and their second lowest of all time.

[K]

The Sydney Test.

Who'd want to be a selector ?
...

Cummins, Starc & Lyon must play.

That leaves Hazlewood, Richardson, Green, and Boland to take the last 2 spots. Which 2 would you leave out ?

There's also the intriguing prospect of Mitchell Swepson. He's still in the Oz Test squad and has long been mentioned as Lyon's spin partner for the SCG Test. If this transpires, and Haz is fully recovered, which other quick would miss out ?

The selectors lack ***** (sorry, George!)...

But if they had some they'd rest Starc. Keep him for the pink ball. There won't be any swing at the SCG. The pitch will probably be dead like last year. (OTOH the folks responsible blamed that on the weather... They claimed it stuffed up their preparation. If that's true, maybe there's hope.)

Play Boland. Dunno his SCG record... But if he's a workhorse who can bowl himself into the ground that's what's needed.