Coach Andrew McDonald has revealed that Australia has chosen to use Scott Boland as the third pacer for the opening Test match against South Africa at the Gabba beginning on Saturday (December 17) rather than Michael Neser.
In place of the injured Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, Boland and Neser were selected for Australia's team for the day/night Test against West Indies at the Adelaide Oval, which the hosts won to win the series.
When it came time to choose one, the Australian team management chose Boland over Neser even though both of them had performed well in the game. Boland will face South Africa with Cummins as his partner and Starc as the third pacer because Hazlewood is still out.
Before Australia left for Brisbane, McDonald informed the media, "Expecting Scott to take that slot at the Gabba." He hasn't done anything wrong, according to the running line.
Pat is expected to play because of his stellar record right now, thus he will take Pat's position. In order to complement Cummins, Starc, and Boland, you also have (all-rounder Cameron) Green and (spinner Nathan) Lyon.
Boland has the top average (10.33) and strike rate (30.6) among bowlers with at least 20 Test wickets after taking three wickets in a spectacular over in Adelaide under the lights. And the 33-year-old has accomplished this in each of his first four Test matches.
Boland initially missed the summer's Test matches and could miss the second or third Test against South Africa if Hazlewood recovers from a side injury. Even if the bowlers do not sustain any further injuries, the Australians will continue to rotate their pace attack because they have a busy calendar in 2023.
"Managing your way through a summer is a difficult assignment, possibly a little bit tougher for the players," coach McDonald remarked.
"We already know that early in the summer, there were several casualties.
"It's just a reality, the games keep coming. Last year it was Covid and injuries as well, so (rotation) wasn't by design nor has it been this early in the summer. It's something that is forced upon us.
"Would we have the same mentality if we were all fully fit? Yeah, potentially."