There has been a bit of chuntering about the early deployment of the Kookaburra in the County Championship but, given his expertise with Australian cricket’s ball of choice, expect none to come from the latest Test-class fast bowler to grace the competition. After the 24-hour schlepp from Melbourne to the north-east last week, and a four-hour coach journey down the M1 to Birmingham on Thursday, Scott Boland is set to make his debut for Durham against Warwickshire in the second round that starts on Friday– surprisingly his first county stint, despite appearing utterly built for it.
Ever since he filleted England with figures of six for seven on a spicy MCG pitch two years ago – a dream-like debut in the Boxing Day Test at his home ground that sealed the 2021-22 Ashes for Australia – counties have been seeking Boland’s signature with a view to what chaos his relentless, muscular seam-up may wreak in the four-day game.
