Scott Boland is keen to take the new ball again for Australia and rip into England at the Gabba after learning plenty from a rare “off day” in the first Test.
The veteran paceman was unhappy with his 0-62 from 10 first innings overs in Perth but bounced back to claim 4-33 in the second and rip out England’s top order.
His spell of 3-3 in 11 deliveries on the second day turned the Test.
The 36-year-old now has 22 wickets against England in Australian conditions in four Tests at the stunning average of 12.14.
Boland said his first innings display in Perth was simply the result of an “off day” after overpitching too much.
“I wanted to start a little bit fuller than normal with the new ball but I probably bowled seven or eight half-volleys and they all went for four,” he said.
“I was pretty happy with how I bounced back in the second innings. I didn’t bowl too many half-volleys but went back to my natural length and the stuff I know I am really good at.
“I was really disappointed with how I bowled in the first innings because I generally don’t bowl too many half-volleys.”
Boland said he should have “figured it out a bit quicker” but was a fast learner in the second dig.
He has no qualms about sharing the new pink ball with Mitchell Starc in the day-night second Test from Thursday.
“I take the new ball for Victoria all the time,” Boland said.
“I am pretty comfortable with the new ball. I want to bowl a fuller length with the new ball as everyone does but I don’t want to go over-pitching.”
Boland dismissed Harry Brook and Ollie Pope in Perth with good length deliveries outside off stump – an area where he’s been lethal in the past.
“It proves to me my good stuff, it doesn’t matter who it is to, when I am getting it in the right areas it is good enough to anyone,” he said.
“That gives me confidence. I think we will get some good bounce here at the Gabba which we usually do.
“We went through what worked in Perth and what is going to work here and it feels like a lot of stuff will be very similar.
“The pink ball under lights does do a little bit more. If you can get a new ball with a longer night session you can really make some inroads.”
Australia also had great success with short-pitched bowling in Perth due to England’s penchant for hooking in the air, shots that land in fielders’ laps on the bigger grounds.
“Definitely the ground size here plays a big part in that,” Boland said.
“The Perth stadium is really wide, with really big pockets. The ground is quite similar here.
“I think that worked in our favour. Sometimes when you do go to that bouncer plan you can leak runs pretty quickly … but we also took wickets.
“The first innings it worked really quick and in the second innings they played it a little bit better so I think we will be adjusting on the fly.”
https://thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/boland-back-to-new-ball-best-for-gabba-after-off-day-c-20873032
