Why Scott Boland’s axing doesn’t make sense

October 27, 2026 — 7:04pm

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There is something about the axing of Scott Boland and the retention of Marnus Labuschagne for the series-deciding Test in South Africa that doesn’t make sense.

Boland was squeezed out of the XI after taking 5-81 and making a defiant 40 in a three-hour vigil as night watchman. Labuschagne lives to fight another day after wasting a start in the second innings, extending his century drought to 47 innings across 39 months.

Boland has the misfortune of playing in the same era as three Australian fast-bowling greats in Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc. In that respect, he is the Stuart MacGill of his time, coming into the attack only when one of the trio is injured or in seaming conditions, in place of Nathan Lyon. Living in the same era as the great Shane Warne – playing only when the greatest leg-spinner of all time was injured or when the conditions demanded a second spinner – was MacGill’s cross to bear.

But at what point does Boland’s record become irresistible? He’s now played 20 Tests and taken 87 wickets at an average of 18.44. His strike rate of a wicket every 38.6 balls is the second best of anyone who has played 20 Tests or more, behind South African left-armer Marco Jansen (38.49 in 23........

© The Sydney Morning Herald