Ashes 2023: England will look to play Scott Boland like a spinner, says Michael Vaughan

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan reckons England will look to play Scott Boland like a spinner. Vaughan feels England batters will look to make use of their feet against the fast bowler. Boland was right on the money in the World Test Championship final against India as he scalped a total of five wickets and played a key role in Australia’s convincing win of 209 runs.

The lanky pacer got rid of Shubman Gill in both innings and dismissed Virat Kohli in the second essay. The 34-year-old consistently bowled in the corridor of uncertainty and troubled the Indian batters with his accurate line and length. Ergo, Boland could be a thorn in the flesh of England batters in the upcoming Ashes.

The fast bowler has scalped 33 wickets in eight Test matches at an impressive average of 14.58. Furthermore, Boland had returned with impressive figures of 6-7 in the second innings of his Test debut against England in the Boxing Day Test match in 2021 Ashes.

On the other hand, England batters have adopted ‘Bazball’ and it has paid dividends against most of the teams. However, Vaughan feels it will be an interesting battle between England aggressive batsmen and relentless Australian bowling line-up.

“It (Bazball) has worked against most teams they have played,” Vaughan said on Fox Cricket’s Ashes Preview show.

“This Australian team are different though. They are a relentless bowling unit. But they’ll try and they’ll come out dancing.

“Scott Boland’s length, they’ll be playing him like a spinner. They will be.”

“They’ll be running down, they’ll be trying to get down outside off-stump, they know where he’s going to land it. They’ll be trying to whip it on the onside.”

There is no doubt that Scott Boland deserves his place in the team and he could trouble the England batters with his nagging length. On the other hand, it will be interesting to note England batters’ approach against Australian fast bowling unit.

The first Ashes Test will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham from June 16 onwards.