Top End T20 Series to Feature Brown, Sutherland, and Boland

Top End T20 Series to Feature Brown, Sutherland, and Boland

The Top End T20 series in Darwin is set to feature a host of rising stars and experienced campaigners, with Josh Brown, Will Sutherland, and Scott Boland among the notable inclusions.

Sutherland, who made his ODI debut for Australia last season, will lead the Melbourne Renegades Academy squad. The all-rounder has been recovering from a stress fracture of the back and will be eager to make an impact in Darwin.

Brown, who joined the Renegades from the Brisbane Heat, will be making his first appearance for his new club. The explosive batsman is known for his big-hitting abilities, having scored a stunning 140 off 57 balls against the Adelaide Strikers last season.

The Renegades Academy squad also includes Kane Richardson and Marcus Harris. Richardson is a regular member of the Australian T20I team, while Harris is a talented opener who has played for the Perth Scorchers in the past.

Melbourne Stars Academy will have the experience of Scott Boland, who will serve as both a player and bowling coach. Boland, who has represented Australia in Test cricket, will be making his first competitive appearance since April after recovering from a heel injury.

Hilton Cartwright, who is part of the Stars’ BBL squad, will also feature in the Top End T20.

The tournament will also feature teams from Northern Territory Strike, Adelaide Strikers, Perth Scorchers, Tasmania, ACT Comets, Pakistan A, and Bangladesh High Performance.

Jake Weatherald and D’Arcy Short, who both play for the Adelaide Strikers, will represent NT Strike.

The Top End T20 series is an important opportunity for young players to showcase their skills and for experienced players to get some match practice ahead of the BBL season.

Durham Sign Peter Siddle as Scott Boland Ruled Out with Injury

Durham Sign Peter Siddle as Scott Boland Ruled Out with Injury

Durham County Cricket Club has signed veteran Australian seamer Peter Siddle as a replacement for Scott Boland, who has been ruled out of his stint with the club due to a plantar fasciitis injury.

Boland, who had signed a multi-format deal until the end of July, was expected to play a key role in Durham’s County Championship and T20 Blast campaigns. However, the foot injury prevented him from arriving in time for the opening Division One fixture against Hampshire, which was washed out due to rain. The injury worsened after he bowled 13 wicketless overs against Warwickshire, forcing him to miss the subsequent match against Worcestershire.

Scans revealed that the 35-year-old Boland will require significant recovery and rehabilitation. Cricket Australia (CA), which had encouraged Boland to play as much cricket as possible in England to build up his fitness ahead of the upcoming Test series against India, will now oversee his recovery.

Durham’s director of cricket, Marcus North, moved swiftly to secure Siddle as a replacement. The 39-year-old Siddle has extensive experience in county cricket, having played for Nottinghamshire, Lancashire, Essex, and Somerset. He has taken 189 wickets at an average of 22.98 across all four clubs, including 16 wickets at 24.12 for Somerset last season.

“It was important we acted quickly to replace Scott Boland and we have done that with the addition of Peter Siddle for the County Championship,” North said in a statement. “It is very disappointing to lose Scott after just one game and we wish him all the best in his recovery. We look forward to welcoming Pete to Durham and watching him play a key part in our success on the field in the coming weeks.”

Siddle, who has not played a Test match since the last of his 10 caps during last summer’s Ashes, will be eager to make an impact for Durham and prove his fitness ahead of the India series. With Boland not in CA’s T20 World Cup plans, there is ample time for him to overcome this latest setback.

Scott Boland's Durham Debut Hampered by Heel Injury

Scott Boland’s Durham Debut Hampered by Heel Injury

Scott Boland’s debut for Durham has been marred by a resurfacing heel injury, casting doubt over his availability for the county’s upcoming fixtures. The Australian fast bowler, who is on a short-term contract with Durham, bowled 13 wicketless overs in the first innings of their draw against Warwickshire but did not take the field after the first day.

Boland’s injury has been identified as plantar fasciitis, a common heel condition among fast bowlers. It is the same issue that delayed his arrival in England and caused him to miss Durham’s first game. The club is awaiting further clarity on his fitness and is exploring potential replacements if he is ruled out for an extended period.

Boland’s contract with Durham runs until the end of July and covers both the County Championship and the T20 Blast. However, as a centrally contracted player with Cricket Australia (CA), his workload will be closely monitored. CA’s medical staff will collaborate with Durham on Boland’s recovery, aiming to maximize his playing time while managing his fitness.

Boland’s injury highlights the ongoing challenges faced by CA in managing the workload of its centrally contracted bowlers. Despite not playing a Test since last year’s Ashes, Boland was rested at the start of the Sheffield Shield season in anticipation of rest periods for Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc during Australia’s international commitments. However, the trio played all seven Shield matches, leaving Boland with a relatively quiet summer.

CA’s approach to managing its bowlers has also been evident in the cases of Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Lyon. Bartlett was withdrawn from a stint with Kent just before the start of the Championship, while Lyon’s initial agreement to play a full season with Lancashire was reduced to seven red-ball matches following discussions with Australia’s selectors.

Meanwhile, Ben Stokes spent two days with the Durham squad during their draw at Edgbaston, continuing his recovery from knee surgery. The England all-rounder is gradually increasing his bowling workload as he aims to return to full fitness.

Australia Unchanged for Second New Zealand Test, Boland Likely to Return Home

Australia Unchanged for Second New Zealand Test, Boland Likely to Return Home

Australia’s Test team will remain unchanged for the fourth consecutive match, with the bowling quartet also set to stay intact for the seventh time this summer. Back-up quick Scott Boland is likely to be released to play Sheffield Shield cricket for Victoria on Monday.

Captain Pat Cummins confirmed the expected lineup for the second Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, starting Friday. Australia aims to secure a 2-0 series victory after their triumph in Wellington.

The final round of Shield matches begins Monday, and Victoria has a chance to qualify for a third straight final by hosting Western Australia at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. Boland and Michael Neser are the two reserve quicks on tour, while Matt Renshaw is the only spare batter in the 14-man squad.

Australia must retain at least one spare batter and one spare bowler in case of a concussion but could release one of the quicks to play in the Shield. Queensland is out of contention for the final and would not require Neser’s return.

Boland is expected to be released after Friday’s toss to prepare for Victoria’s match against Western Australia. “There was talk of maybe sending Scotty back for Victoria but holding Nes back from Queensland just to annoy Marnus [Labuschagne] and Usman [Khawaja],” Cummins said.

Boland has had a frustrating summer. He starred in Australia’s World Test Championship final victory last June and kept Mitchell Starc out of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. However, England targeted him in the two Tests he played in the Ashes, and Australia reverted to their “big three” for the final two Tests.

Boland was rested for specific Shield matches at the start of the summer at the request of Australia’s selectors to be fresh for the Tests. However, the trio of Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc have remained fit, and Boland has played only five first-class matches this season.

“I think I said at the start of the summer I’d be surprised we played all seven just because it’s rare that something doesn’t pop up,” Cummins said. “But thankfully we’ve all kind of managed all the little niggles that pop up pretty well.”

While Australia is settled, there is caution heading into the second Test. In 2022 against Sri Lanka and last month against the West Indies, Australia squandered 1-0 leads with poor performances in the second match of each series.

Concerns surround the batting group, with frank discussions held internally during the week about being more ruthless and accountable to individual plans. “I think it’s just decision-making around plans, and having really clear plans,” Cummins said. “It doesn’t mean you need to have 12 shot options. It might only be two or three.”

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