Boland selection in focus as Australia weigh Lyon return
Nathan Lyon's possible return for the Cape Town decider could leave four Australian fast bowlers competing for three places.
Australia captain Pat Cummins has praised Scott Boland’s second-Test performance, with the fast bowler’s place for the South Africa series decider dependent partly on whether Nathan Lyon returns in Cape Town.
Boland took 5-81 in Gqeberha, claiming four of South Africa’s first five wickets. He also faced 166 balls as nightwatchman in Australia’s second innings, but the tourists lost by an innings and 31 runs.
Australia will assess the Cape Town pitch when they train before deciding whether to select a spinner. If Lyon comes back and all four quicks are fit, Boland, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Cummins would be competing for three places.
Cummins praised Boland’s bowling and determination with the bat, noting that he had volunteered for nightwatchman duties after bowling 20 overs on day three. The 37-year-old has appeared in 20 of Australia’s 50 Tests since his 2021-22 MCG debut and averages 18.44 with the ball.
Cummins also defended omitting Lyon at St George’s Park, citing the green pitch and overcast, wet conditions. Hazlewood’s food poisoning left Beau Webster with a larger bowling workload than expected. Cummins said Lyon remained central to selection discussions despite his disappointment at missing the match.
