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Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is backing seamer Scott Boland to come good in the WTC Final, should he play, against India.
The WTC 2023 Final will be played between India and Australia from June 7 at The Oval.
Like India, Australia, too, are fretting over an injury concern to their key fast bowler Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood and also too all-rounder Mitchell Marsh. Hazlewood is the bigger name here and would play the World Test Championship Final is he’s fit.
However, the chances of that are looking slim as Australia wouldn’t want to rush the seamer because of the following 5-Test Ashes series against England. Hazlewood had flown back to home from the IPL before the league phase ended after reporting side soreness although scans in Australia did not show any damage.
Ponting has said that if Hazlewood is not fit the World Test Championship Final, then Scott Boland should certainly play in the XI. Ricky is confident that Boland, who has 28 wickets in 7 Tests, would thrive in helpful English conditions.
“Boland’s record when he’s played over the last 12 months has been absolutely outstanding,” Ricky Ponting said on the latest episode of The ICC Review. “He’s one that would really, potentially thrive in these English conditions. We’ve seen what he’s been able to do in Australia when there has been a bit of assistance off the wicket there and with the ball. So I think he’ll get the nod ahead of Neser.”
Ricky Ponting is pretty clear what Australia’s XI would be the WTC Final against India
Even though David Warner hasn’t had the best of the times in Test cricket, the former batting great is backing the star opener.
“I think Warner will play. I’m listening to everything that’s been spoken about the last few months, that Warner will play along with Khawaja, opening the batting.
“Marnus [Labuschagne] three, [Steve] Smith four, [Travis] Head five, [Cameron] Green six, [Alex] Carey seven, [Mitchell] Starc eight, [Pat] Cummins nine, [Nathan] Lyon 10.
“Scott Boland will be the guy that will come in in Hazlewood’s place,” he added.
Ricky Ponting’s predicted Australia XI (if Hazlewood is unfit):
Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
Australia’s squad for WTC final 2023:
Pat Cummins (C), Steve Smith (VC), David Warner, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Harris, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, and Todd Murphy
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