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R Ashwin feels that the inclusion of Scott Boland was the game-changer that Australia needed to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Scott Boland’s inclusion gave Australia the edge. (Image: AFP)
The former Indian spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, reckons that while Pat Cummins might’ve had quite a few wickets in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, it is the presence of another quick that turned the tides in their favour.
Ashwin on his YouTube channel, ‘Ash ki baat,’ explained how the Australian skipper was not at his best, particularly when he struggled with left-handed batters in the tour despite conditions being suited to the bowlers for the most part.
“A lot of people are saying that Pat Cummins had a great series. But a lot of people are also not seeing that whenever India travels to Australia or England, all these bowlers have so much trouble bowling to a left-handed batter. Even Pat Cummins has struggled a lot with left-handed batters,” Ashwin shared.
Cummins finished the five-match series as Australia’s highest wicket-taker with a total of 25 scalps at an average of 21.36. Among all his dismissals, he got rid of left-handed batters on eight occasions, with Rishabh Pant being his most frequent victim, dismissing him a total of five times.
In fact, more than Cummins’ exploits, Ashwin deems the inclusion of Scott Bolad as the game-changing moment which tiled the series onto their side. The right-arm pacer is just four wickets behind Cummins with 21 scalps at an average of just 13.19.
If Boland did not play, we would have won the series, I’m telling you. No offence to Hazlewood; he’s a fantastic bowler, but if they continued with the same attack and did not play Boland, we would have won the series; he had that much of an impact, especially when he came around the wicket against the left-handers,” he added.
Australia’s stellar bowling attack, coupled with some fine batting performances, ended their long-standing losing streak against the Indian unit as they went on to reclaim the BGT 2024-25 title. Following the BGT 2024-25 win, the side will now shift their focus to the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, the Champions Trophy 2025, and the WTC final against South Africa, to be played at the Lord’s Stadium. Perhaps Boland could come into the side and make an impact there as well.
