Scott Boland Better Prepared for Bazball Challenge Ahead of 2025-26 Ashes

Australian pace bowler Scott Boland says he feels better equipped to handle England’s aggressive "Bazball" approach this summer, should he be called upon during the home Ashes series.

Boland was targeted heavily during the 2023 Ashes in England, managing just two wickets across two Tests at an average of 115.50. This came after his sensational debut Ashes series in 2021-22, where he claimed 18 wickets at 9.55. However, the 35-year-old believes both his bowling and the expected conditions in Australia will help him turn the tables if given another opportunity.

“I've obviously thought about it a lot since it happened in 2023,” Boland said at an event in Melbourne marking 100 days to the first Test in Perth. “But I still think there were times in England where I bowled pretty well and just didn't get a wicket. I'm a better bowler than I was back then.”

Despite boasting the best Test bowling average in over 100 years among players with more than 50 wickets — currently sitting at 16.53 following a recent hat-trick in Jamaica — Boland remains behind Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood in Australia's pace pecking order.

The right-arm seamer expects the Australian pitches to play a crucial role in countering England’s Bazball tactics, noting that recent home surfaces have generally been more bowler-friendly than those in England.

“They're going to play aggressively,” Boland said. “But if the wickets stay similar to the last few years, I think we're going to be in the game all the time.”

The contrast in conditions was evident during England's recent high-scoring Test series in India, where a record 21 centuries were scored across five matches. In stark contrast, Australian pitches yielded just 19 centuries in 15 Tests since the last home Ashes, with India scoring only three during their five-match tour last summer.

While Boland was preferred over spinner Nathan Lyon in extreme conditions in Jamaica, he doesn't expect a four-seamer strategy to be used in Australia. “I hope so, but probably not in Australia,” he said. “Nathan's one of the best spin bowlers in the world. And with Greeny [Cameron Green] bowling again, four quicks is probably unlikely.”

Boland has not bowled competitively since the Jamaica Test but has been focusing on strengthening his body — particularly his knees — to avoid the soreness that affected him last summer. A change in his gym program, initiated in consultation with head coach Andrew McDonald, appears to be paying off.

As part of his Ashes preparation, Boland is still finalising his early-season schedule. With discussions ongoing between Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria, Boland expects to feature in two or three of the first four Sheffield Shield matches before the first Test.

One potential highlight includes a clash against New South Wales and Test hopeful Sam Konstas at Junction Oval on October 15. Boland dismissed Konstas three times in four Shield meetings last season.

However, game time may be a challenge. In 2023-24, Boland was carried as the reserve quick for seven Tests without playing. The same could happen this summer, especially with long breaks between early Tests allowing the front-line quicks to recover. Yet the tighter schedule toward the end — including short turnarounds between the Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney Tests — could increase Boland’s chances of being rotated in.

Match opportunities may arise in concurrent Australia A or CA XI matches against England Lions in Perth and Brisbane. Still, Shield cricket ends on December 7 before the BBL begins, which could complicate his preparation.

“There’s such good breaks in between the first two Tests that gives whoever plays an opportunity to reset and freshen up,” Boland said. “But I think going from last year, when we had just three days between Melbourne and Sydney — that’s hard work. It probably takes you a session or two to get everything moving again.”

As the Ashes countdown continues, Boland remains Australia’s most reliable back-up quick — and, if called upon, is confident he can meet the Bazball blitz head-on in familiar conditions.