Boland's Bangladesh push reignites Australia's big three debate
Australia have named a full-strength 13-man Test squad for the home series against Bangladesh, reigniting the Scott Boland versus Josh Hazlewood selection debate. With Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood all available, chair of selectors George Bailey says Boland is mounting a strong case to join cricket's so-called big three.
Key Takeaways
- Cummins, Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon return from injury for Australia's two Tests against Bangladesh in Darwin and Mackay.
- Boland and Hazlewood are both in the 13-man squad, so one is likely to miss the first XI with Lyon also expected to play.
- Bailey says Boland is "mounting a strong case" that he could be one of Australia's big three quicks.
- Opener Jake Weatherald retains his place alongside Travis Head after the Ashes.
- Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett miss out despite recent Test involvement.
Why does the Boland debate matter for Bangladesh?
Australia host Bangladesh from 13-17 August in Darwin and 22-26 August in Mackay, Bangladesh's first Test tour of Australia since 2003. It is the first time Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Boland have all been included in a Test squad since last year's Caribbean tour.
Hazlewood missed the entire Ashes through injury and Cummins played just once because of a back stress issue. Lyon featured in only two Tests after a serious hamstring injury. All three are available again, which forces a familiar call: with Lyon almost certain to play on Darwin's TIO Stadium surface, either Hazlewood or Boland will likely sit out.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Bailey said the conversation is constant and that Boland "could be one of those" when selectors talk about the big three. For more BlasterPost coverage beyond sport selection fights, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.
What has Bailey said about Australia's pace pecking order?
Boland was squeezed out the last time the four quicks were fit in the Caribbean. He has only once been picked ahead of one of the established trio, at the 2023 World Test Championship final, and then retained his place ahead of Starc at Edgbaston. Since then he has usually missed out when Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood were all fit.
His record still shouts for inclusion. Boland has 82 wickets at 18.58 from 19 Tests, including 69 wickets in Australia at 16.20. At 37 he has not missed a Test through injury since his 2021 debut and played five Ashes Tests in a row.
Hazlewood's numbers remain elite: 295 wickets at 24.21 from 76 Tests. But Bailey flagged first-up injury risk after setbacks in four of the last five summers. Cricket Australia has adjusted Hazlewood's training since the IPL and rested Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood from June white-ball tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh to build longer prep blocks.
Who else made Australia's Bangladesh Test squad?
The squad is: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster.
Weatherald keeps the opener's role with Head after making 201 runs at 22.33 across five Ashes Tests. Usman Khawaja has retired, leaving Green, Webster, Carey and Inglis in contention for middle-order balance once Lyon returns. Bailey also said selectors are not locking in an XI yet and expect different line-ups across a possible 21-Test year.
The immediate story is simple: Bangladesh arrive for a rare Australia tour, Australia finally have their full bowling cupboard open again, and Boland's home form has made the big-three debate impossible to ignore.