Follow UsScott Boland was the one who caused havoc in England’s second innings in the Perth Test, which was the Ashes 2025-26 opener. After going for a lot of runs in the first innings, Boland learned his lessons pretty quickly and picked three English wickets to get them reeling at 76/4 after they were cruising along at 65/1 with a lead of over 100.
Gaining confidence from that game-changing spell, Boland, ahead of the second Test at the Gabba, said that if he gets his game right, he is good enough for any batter in the world.
"It probably just proves to me that my good stuff, it doesn't matter who it's to, I think it feels like when I'm getting in the right areas, it's good enough to anyone," ESPNcricinfo quoted Boland as saying in the pre-match press conference on December 2 (Tuesday).
"I think that gives me a little bit of confidence that if I'm nailing my game… I'm good enough to compete with anyone,” added the right-arm quick.
Talking about the mistakes he made in the first innings at Perth, the 36-year-old said, “I just had one of those days when I was over-pitching too much. I wanted to start a little bit fuller than normal with the new ball, but I probably bowled seven or eight half-volleys, and they all went for four.”
"I was pretty happy with how I bounced back in the second innings. I sort of went back to my natural length. Stuff that I know I'm really good at. I was obviously really disappointed with how I bowled in the first innings because generally I don't bowl too many half-volleys,” Boland said of the adjustments that he made in the second innings.
Boland also gave his perspective on the pitch that Gabba could offer for the Day-Night Pink-Ball Test. He said, "I think we'll get some good bounce here at the Gabba, which we usually do. We went through what worked in Perth and what's going to work here. It feels like a lot of the stuff is very similar."
Australia lead the five-match Ashes after they chased down 205 with ease to win the first Test in Perth.