Ashes 3rd Test LIVE – Australia Playing XI: Scott Boland could not have expected a better Christmas present than what he has got this time. The uncapped fast-medium bowler will debut for Australia at MCG in 3rd Ashes Test. He will become just the second Indigenous male Test cricketer following Jason Gillespie to play for Australia – Follow AUS vs ENG LIVE Score & Ashes 3rd Test LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
Ashes 3rd Test LIVE: Injured Josh Hazlewood could miss entire Ashes series, Scott Boland set to make debut- Follow LIVE updates
Scott Boland to make Debut – Australia Playing XI: Boland was called up to the Australia squad earlier this week as injury cover to Josh Hazlewood.
But the 32-year-old now will be making his debut even with captain Pat Cummins returning to the side.
Josh Hazlewood is still injured with a side strain and could miss the rest of the Ashes series in Australia, with Michael Neser getting dropped for the returning Cummins.
Josh Hazlewood was injured during Australia’s victory against England in Brisbane. He did not take part in the team’s main session on Friday.
Cummins confirmed Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser – both of whom performed well in their crushing second Test win in Adelaide – pulled up sore, allowing Boland to debut.
“Yeah he is (debuting),” Cummins told reporters outside the MCG on Christmas Day.
“Really excited for Scotty, class player, debuting here on his ground. Jhye and Ness pulled up a little bit sore after Adelaide, so (we) made the decision to bring in Scotty. It’s a luxury to have someone like him really to go, so he’s fresh and he’s been consistent for so long and excited he gets his chance.”
Ashes 3rd Test LIVE: Injured Josh Hazlewood could miss entire Ashes series, Scott Boland set to make debut- Follow LIVE updates
Who is Scott Boland- Josh Hazlewood’s replacement for the Boxing Day Test?
- Australia’s Scott Boland is all set to become the only second Australian Test cricketer from Aboriginal origins in 144 years after Jason Gillespie who represented Australia from 1996 to 2006.
- The latter still holds the record of unbeaten 201 by a night watchman (against Bangladesh in April 2006).
- The fast-medium bowler had spent record six seasons with Melbourne Stars between 2013 & 2019 and now he is likely to make an impact against England at the MCG. He has picked 91 wickets in 26 FC matches at the MCG at an average of 25.71
- The 32-year-old has experience playing 14 ODIs, 3 ODIs. He becomes the sixth fast bowler to feature in the ongoing Ashes for Australia so far.
- He has an advantage against left-handers with an ability to seam the ball away from southpaws.
“We earmarked him as a chance for here and the SCG in particular, we think his record is really well suited,” said Pat Cummins who is back to lead Australia.
“His record speaks for itself here in domestic cricket. Home ground, having someone fresh like him who can perform straightaway were the big factors. He’s really excited obviously – it’s a dream for him to wear the Baggy Green, packed MCG on Boxing Day, it doesn’t get any better,” he added.
Ashes 3rd Test LIVE – England makes 4 changes to XI: Meanwhile England has made four changes for make or break MCG Test. Zak Crawley and Johnny Bairstow will make their 1st appearance for the series while both Mark Wood and Jack Leach have been recalled to the XI.
Rory Burns, Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes & Stuart Broad have been dropped from the XI.
TEAMS FOR THIRD ASHES TEST – AUS vs ENG LIVE Score
England Playing XI: 1 Haseeb Hameed, 2 Zak Crawley, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Jos Buttler (wkt), 8 Mark Wood, 9 Ollie Robinson, 10 Jack Leach, 11 Jimmy Anderson.
Australia Playing XI: 1 David Warner, 2 Marcus Harris, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steve Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wkt), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Scott Boland, 11 Nathan Lyon.
Schedule
First Test: Australia won by nine wickets
Second Test: Australia won by 275 runs
Third Test: December 26-30, MCG
Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG
Fifth Test: January 14-18, Blundstone Arena
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Ashes 3rd Test LIVE: Injured Josh Hazlewood could miss entire Ashes series, Scott Boland set to make debut- Follow LIVE updates
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