Ashes 2021-22: Andrew Symonds and Brad Haddin have contradicting opinions on Scott Boland's participation in Sydney Test

Australia defeated England in the Boxing Day Test by an innings and 14 runs margin. The Australian bowlers bundled up the English batting unit for a mere total of 68 runs in the second innings. The batters couldn’t even play an entire session on day three.

Scott Boland who made his Test debut at the age of 32 years and with an experience of taking 279 first-class wickets had a dream run in the second innings. Boland picked a six-wicket haul in the second innings in front of his home crowd. Boland last played an international game for Australia in 2016.

Boland was picked in this Test because Josh Hazlewood was not fit enough to play. In the second Test, Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser played to compensate for Pat Cummins and Hazlewood. But, the duo of Richardson and Neser was dropped from the third Test.

Hence, it seems like that might be the case with Boland if Hazlewood gets fit before the next Test. During an interaction with Fox Cricket, former Australian cricketers Andrew Symonds and Brad Haddin gave out their prediction on whether Boland will be there or not in the Sydney Test.

“They (Australia) have got horses for courses approach. They also have got really an interesting situation because you got (Josh) Hazlewood coming back in, he would be fit by the next Test. So, you won’t drop a bloke who has got a six for seven, you wouldn’t have thought,” Symonds said when asked about Boland.

You got to pick the best team: Brad Haddin

Haddin had a completely different view than Symonds. He mentioned that Richardson, Neser, and Boland have performed really well in the opportunity that they got. But, Australia needs to pick the top three bowlers, if they are fit. Haddin also said that Australia has created some depth in its bowling attack.

“I think you still got to pick your best bowlers. If those three are fit, they get picked. You have seen in the second Test, Richardson and Neser were outstanding. Richardson got a fifer, Boland got a six-fer. But, it does prove that you still got to pick the best team. What it does show is you have created some depth and that is a credit to the staff and the selectors,” Haddin said.