Former England captain Michael Vaughan has forecasted a strategic offensive aimed at Scott Boland as the Ashes series kicks off in Perth next week. Boland is expected to replace Pat Cummins, who is recovering from a lower-back stress injury and will miss the first Test at Optus Stadium.
Boland, a Victorian seamer, has established a strong reputation in Test cricket, but he faced challenges during the 2023 Ashes tour, where he conceded 231 runs while taking just two wickets in matches at Leeds and Birmingham. Vaughan noted that Boland shares a bowling style with Indian star Jasprit Bumrah, which could suit the conditions in Perth, particularly if Cummins is unavailable.
“Of all the venues, if you’re going to leave Pat out, Perth is not a bad venue,” Vaughan stated on Monday during a commentary session for Kayo Sports, the streaming service broadcasting the series. He added, “Boland is a star bowler who hits the stumps, very similar to what we saw from Bumrah last year.”
Vaughan emphasized that Boland’s ability to maintain an effective length will challenge the England batting lineup. “The question is how England counteracts that,” he remarked. “I think they’ll probably go at him, try to knock him off his balance and run at him, which comes with a great deal of danger.”
Boland, who has taken 62 wickets in 14 Tests at an impressive average of 16.53, acknowledged the pressure he may face from aggressive English batsmen like Harry Brook and Ben Stokes. “It’s not really me showing my skills against them. It’s probably more [that] I believe in my skills,” he stated, expressing his determination to perform well.
Vaughan has predicted a 3-1 series win for the Australian team but acknowledged that England possesses a formidable pace attack capable of turning the tide. While much attention is focused on speedsters like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, Vaughan highlighted the potential impact of Josh Tongue, who has taken 31 wickets in six Tests.
“Everyone will be talking about Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, but Josh Tongue can have an impact,” Vaughan elaborated. He described Tongue’s unique bowling action and noted that he has been effective against Australia in previous encounters. “He’s got an awkward action and gets the ball down at a decent length, which could be beneficial in Perth,” Vaughan added.
Tongue’s performance could be critical given that the Australian team may include several left-handed batsmen, which plays to Tongue’s strengths. “He’s very, very good against left-handers,” Vaughan noted, indicating that this factor might work in England’s favor.
As the England team prepared for their warm-up match against the development team England Lions, they held a net session at Lilac Hill in Perth on Monday. With the opening Test just days away, both teams are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting and competitive Ashes series.
