Boland dropped despite cricket record better than anyone in 130 years
Scott Boland is excluded from the final Test in South Africa despite 87 wickets at 18.44, a strike rate that surpasses every Test cricketer since 1896.
The 37-year-old fast bowler from Victoria will miss the third deciding Test at Cape Town starting Tuesday. In the previous Test at Gqeberha, Boland took 5 for 81 and scored 40 runs batting down the order, outperforming some dedicated batsmen.
Boland recently became Australia's oldest paceman in more than 60 years. Boland's career average and strike rate exceed any bowler in 130 years of Test history.
Yet he sits behind four elite bowlers: captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, whose combined 1,661 Test wickets form the backbone of the Australian team. Boland has become Australia's best spare option, called in when conditions don't suit Lyon or the frontline quicks need rest or injury cover.
- 18.44 at 38.6 deliveries
- Career average and strike rate
- 87 in 20 matches
- Test wickets
- 37 years old
- Age
- Better than anyone since 1896
- Record longevity
Why it mattersFans question why such exceptional statistics do not earn him a permanent spot, but the reality shows even elite talent struggles for game time in a world-class team.
AustraliaAustralian cricket fans frustrated by a brilliant bowler's limited Test opportunities despite record-breaking averages that outclass a century of cricket history.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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