Sydney, Jan 4 (NationPress) Australia head coach Andrew McDonald is not taken aback by pacer Scott Boland's remarkable eight-wicket haul in the ongoing fifth Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
In his third Test of the five-match series, Boland recorded impressive figures of 4-42 after a stellar 4-31 in India's first innings. His performance was crucial in allowing Australia to limit India to 141/6 at the end of Day 2.
“We’re not surprised by Scotty’s performances. Every time he takes the field, he delivers effectively. His capacity to maintain a relentless length and move the ball both ways is proving to be challenging, especially on this (SCG) pitch,” McDonald stated.
“Scotty is always a true consideration, and he consistently performs whenever he dons the Australian colors. We are fortunate to have four exceptional quicks in Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Stark, and Boland.”
The head coach praised Boland’s skill in executing plans effectively in the middle, particularly against Virat Kohli, whom he dismissed for the fourth time in this series.
“Having a plan is one thing, but executing it, especially against Virat, to apply immense pressure is another. He has attempted various tactics, walking out of his crease at times, but Scotty Boland's relentless approach has made it incredibly difficult for him,” McDonald added.
Considering the pitch's significant impact in the series finale, McDonald recognizes the challenges ahead, despite a low-scoring chase anticipated on Sunday.
“In low-scoring matches like this, the pressure intensifies. There is still a long way to go, and plenty of cricket left to play, so we’ll see how it unfolds. The loss of quick wickets is just a reflection of the current state of Test cricket,” he remarked.
“I believe both bowling attacks possess some generational talent that we are witnessing. It is not surprising that new batters entering the game are often vulnerable, as we have observed throughout the series.”
“However, if you can establish a partnership, it demonstrates that runs can be scored on these types of surfaces,” he concluded.
Currently, India leads by 145 runs, with Ravindra Jadeja (eight not out) and Washington Sundar (six not out) poised to strengthen their partnership on Day 3. India will resume their innings from 141/6.
