Former skipper Michael Vaughan on how England can counter Scott Boland

Former skipper Michael Vaughan says England will use a very unusual tactic to counter the deadly bowling of in-form Aussie quick Scott Boland

  • England won’t fear in-form Aussie paceman Scott Boland
  • Veteran, 34, snared five wickets against India in the WTC
  • ‘Will play him like a spinner’ according to Michael Vaughan
  • First Ashes Test at Edgbaston on June 16, Aussies are favourites 

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has revealed how his old team plan to counter the deadly-accurate line and length bowling of Aussie quick Scott Boland in the Ashes.

While no certainty to be in the XI ahead of the first Test at Edgbaston on Friday, the 34-year-old impressed in the recent World Test Championship win over India.

With Josh Hazlewood under pressure to prove his fitness, Boland looms as a quality first-change option with the Dukes ball.

Vaughan said the hosts will boldly play Boland ‘like a spinner’, and should ‘try to whip it on the onside’ at every opportunity.

It also remains to be seen if England will use their aggressive style of play known as ‘Bazball’, a nod to coach Brendon McCullum.

Former skipper Michael Vaughan has revealed how England plan to counter the nagging line and length bowling of Aussie quick Scott Boland in the Ashes

The Victorian late bloomer, 34, snared five wickets against India in the World Test Championship where he twice claimed the scalp of Shubman Gill as well as Virat Kohli

While risky, it has yielded 12 wins and only four defeats since the Kiwi took over in May of last year. 

‘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 will 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.’

Boland snared five wickets against India in the WTC, where he twice claimed the scalp of Shubman Gill as well as Virat Kohli at The Oval in London where Australia won by 209 runs.

Australian great Mark Waugh believes Boland ‘has to play’ ahead of Josh Hazlewood

Australian great Mark Waugh believes Boland ‘has to play’ and has done enough to get the nod from selectors.

‘If you said this 12 months ago that Josh Hazlewood would be left out of the team, someone would think you’re mad,’ Waugh said.

‘But I think it will happen that way. I think Boland has to play, Cummins has obviously got to play and Starc has got to play because he offers you pace through the air and variety.

‘You don’t want four tall, right-arm seam bowlers because you’ve got Cameron Green as well.

‘So unfortunately I think Josh Hazlewood is going to miss out in the first Test.’

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