Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes that if fully fit, Josh Hazlewood will be given the nod ahead of Scott Boland to start the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Hazlewood was initially withdrawn from Australia’s World Test Championship (WTC) squad due to side soreness following his truncated IPL stint, although he was later cleared of any injury. Despite Hazlewood’s potential return, Boland has continued to impress and make a strong case for his inclusion in Australia’s pace attack.
Hazlewood, who has played only four Tests in the WTC cycle due to injuries and team balance, made an impressive return against South Africa earlier this year but suffered an Achilles injury due to soft run-ups. However, Boland has had a remarkable start to his Test career, particularly with his incredible performance of 6 for 7 in the previous Ashes at the MCG. Ponting acknowledges Boland’s strong form and believes he possesses the necessary skills to succeed with the Dukes ball in English conditions.
Ponting stated, “The thing the selectors might be thinking about is Josh’s injury record over the last few years. When you look at it, with Scotty bowling the way he is, it’s a pretty compelling argument to say is he in their starting XI for the first Test.” Considering the grueling schedule of five Test matches in six weeks, both teams are expected to rest some of their fast bowlers at various points throughout the series.
While discussing Australia’s fast-bowling options, Ponting also touched upon Pat Cummins’ ambition to play all six Tests in the condensed schedule. Ponting believes Cummins can achieve this goal due to the presence of Cameron Green, Australia’s all-rounder, who can share the bowling workload. Cummins had a mixed outing in India’s first innings of the WTC final, taking three wickets but being plagued by no-balls that cost him crucial dismissals. Ponting attributed Cummins’ no-ball issue to his lengthy layoff from competitive cricket and expressed confidence that he will improve as the game progresses.
Regarding Cummins’ no-ball struggles, Ponting said, “Simple, he’s lacking rhythm, he hasn’t played for three months. He’s bowled six no-balls in this innings, two [three] of them have cost him wickets…but he’s never been someone that I can remember that’s been plagued by any kind of no-ball issue.” Ponting expects Cummins to find his rhythm and perform better in the second innings of the match.
As the Ashes series approaches, the Australian selectors will have some tough decisions to make regarding their pace bowling lineup. While Hazlewood remains the preferred choice if fit, Boland’s impressive performances and Hazlewood’s injury history could provide a compelling case for his inclusion. The battle for a spot in Australia’s starting XI will intensify as the teams prepare for the highly anticipated Ashes opener at Edgbaston.
