Latest news with #Boland
India Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
WTC Final: Josh Hazlewood says he is bowling better than ever ahead of SA clash
Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood says he's bowling as well as he ever has, downplaying any doubts over his fitness ahead of the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's starting experienced fast bowler is in a head-to-head contest with Scott Boland for the final pace spot in Australia's attack, alongside captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Hazlewood hasn't played a Test since the third match of last summer's Border-Gavaskar Trophy, when a calf injury forced him out mid-game at the Gabba. A side strain had already kept him out of the second Test in after a strong IPL campaign - where he claimed 22 wickets and helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru win their first title - Hazlewood says he's fully prepared for the return to red-ball cricket. "I was obviously quite close last time," Hazlewood said, referring to the 2023 WTC final, which he missed. "I just had a more interrupted IPL leading into that, and a few issues going on, so wasn't quite up to scratch. But I feel in a much better place this time around."Hazlewood has taken 57 wickets at 19.68 across 13 Tests since the start of the 2023 Ashes, and says he's confident in his form and execution."I still feel like I'm bowling probably the best of my career. It's just a matter of the body holding up - and it has been in the last few months," he WTC mace is one of the few major trophies missing from Hazlewood's collection. Last year's final saw Boland take his place, delivering a key performance in Australia's win over also impressed in the home series against India, taking 21 wickets at 13.19, including a ten-wicket haul at the SCG, further tightening the selection bowled five overs with the Dukes ball at moderate intensity during Australia's optional training session in Beckenham on Saturday. He's scheduled for a more intense, match-simulation session at Lord's on Sunday. In preparation, he had already started red-ball training while still in India."The intensity is probably the big one to tick off," Hazlewood said. "We've been adapting training to get in those back-to-back days, a big session followed by another the next day, just to get used to the demands again.""I ticked over some good overs just before the final in Ahmedabad - in different weather than this," he added with a selectors now have a tough decision to make: go with Hazlewood's experience and current form, or reward Boland's recent dominance. You May Also Like
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
Scott Boland in dark about his spot in Australia's playing XI for WTC final
London [UK], June 6 (ANI): Australia's seasoned quick Scott Boland is still in the dark about his potential appearance in the World Test Championship final against South Africa on Tuesday at the Lord's, a venue where he would 'love' to play. With match figures of 5/105, the 36-year-old was one of Australia's premier pacers when they lifted their maiden WTC mace at The Oval in 2023 against India. He boosted his credentials against India by scalping 21 wickets in three appearances as Australia celebrated its first Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in a decade. Despite his exploits, Boland has found himself in a neck-to-neck battle with IPL-winning seamer Josh Hazlewood for one spot in the defending champions' pace setup against the Proteas. With less than a week left for the enticing contest, Boland has yet to receive the green light from the selectors about his spot in the playing XI. 'I haven't had any chats with them (selectors). My goal coming into the last two months is just to get myself and my body in the position where I can put my hand up and be ready to go if it (selection) goes my way,' Boland said in London on Thursday, as quoted from ICC. 'I probably felt like back into the Shield season (Australian domestic red-ball competition), my knee was sort of not wearing away but wasn't going how I wanted it to go and didn't feel like I was bowling how I wanted, but now I feel like I'm in a really good spot that I can bowl how I want to bowl. It's pulling up really well, so that's all I can do, and I just want to make that decision (for selectors) as hard as possible,' he added. Boland snuck his first training session with Australia on Wednesday while Hazlewood linked up with the team in London after his title-winning campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday. The 36-year-old is aware of the carnage that a fully fit Hazlewood can inflict on the opposition. However, he pushed his case by citing his recent stellar performances for Australia in the Test format. 'I feel like I had a couple of really strong games (during the Border-Gavaskar series), but Josh is obviously a world-class bowler. He's one of the best bowlers in the world, coming off a really good IPL, so I'm sure he'll be doing the same thing here (to push his case for selection). Obviously, we all want to play, but there's probably not room for all of us,' Boland said. If Boland earns a spot in Australia's playing XI, he will make his first appearance at the iconic Lord's. For him, it will be a 'pretty special' moment to bowl at the 'Home of Cricket'. 'I'd love to play at Lord's. I think everyone's looking forward to getting there for training in a few days' time and then getting to the game, as it's a pretty special place for cricket,' he added. (ANI)
NDTV
4 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Scott Boland All But Confirms Australia's Pacers For WTC Final: "All Want To..."
Australia's seasoned quick Scott Boland is still in the dark about his potential appearance in the World Test Championship final against South Africa on Tuesday at the Lord's, a venue where he would "love" to play. With match figures of 5/105, the 36-year-old was one of Australia's premier pacers when they lifted their maiden WTC mace at The Oval in 2023 against India. He boosted his credentials against India by scalping 21 wickets in three appearances as Australia celebrated its first Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in a decade. Despite his exploits, Boland has found himself in a neck-to-neck battle with IPL-winning seamer Josh Hazlewood for one spot in the defending champions' pace setup against the Proteas. With less than a week left for the enticing contest, Boland has yet to receive the green light from the selectors about his spot in the playing XI. "I haven't had any chats with them (selectors). My goal coming into the last two months is just to get myself and my body in the position where I can put my hand up and be ready to go if it (selection) goes my way," Boland said in London on Thursday, as quoted from ICC. "I probably felt like back into the Shield season (Australian domestic red-ball competition), my knee was sort of not wearing away but wasn't going how I wanted it to go and didn't feel like I was bowling how I wanted, but now I feel like I'm in a really good spot that I can bowl how I want to bowl. It's pulling up really well, so that's all I can do, and I just want to make that decision (for selectors) as hard as possible," he added. Boland snuck his first training session with Australia on Wednesday while Hazlewood linked up with the team in London after his title-winning campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday. The 36-year-old is aware of the carnage that a fully fit Hazlewood can inflict on the opposition. However, he pushed his case by citing his recent stellar performances for Australia in the Test format. "I feel like I had a couple of really strong games (during the Border-Gavaskar series), but Josh is obviously a world-class bowler. He's one of the best bowlers in the world, coming off a really good IPL, so I'm sure he'll be doing the same thing here (to push his case for selection). Obviously, we all want to play, but there's probably not room for all of us," Boland said. If Boland earns a spot in Australia's playing XI, he will make his first appearance at the iconic Lord's. For him, it will be a "pretty special" moment to bowl at the 'Home of Cricket'. "I'd love to play at Lord's. I think everyone's looking forward to getting there for training in a few days' time and then getting to the game, as it's a pretty special place for cricket," he added. Listen to the latest songs, only on
Agriland
4 days ago
- Health
- Agriland
Irish Rural Link calls for ‘urgent reform' in safeguarding older people
The Irish Rural Link (IRL), which represents the interests of local communities, has backed calls for the implementation of the Framework for Adult Safeguarding. It follows an RTÉ Investigates programme this week which exposed serious safeguarding failures in two private nursing homes, and which IRL said were 'disturbing and deeply upsetting revelations'. IRL said it supports the call from Safeguarding Ireland, which was set up to promote the safeguarding of adults who may be vulnerable. Safeguarding Ireland has called for the implementation of the framework, which was published by the Law Reform Commission in April 2024, as well as for the establishment of a national safeguarding authority. IRL said the programme that aired this week 'brought to light, once again, the urgent need to review how older people are treated and how nursing-home care is delivered in Ireland'. 'Irish Rural Link has long held the belief that nursing home care should be a last resort. Instead, people should be supported to age and live independently in their own homes,' the organisation said. However, the slow rollout of the Statutory Home Care Scheme and the 'severe lack' of adequate funding continue to hinder progress in providing the necessary supports to enable people to remain in their homes, the IRL claimed. The organisation said that community-based health and social care initiatives are essential in helping older people age at home with dignity. The IRL called for such initiatives to receive greater recognition and investment as part of a 'broader continuum of care'. Seamus Boland, the CEO of IRL, said: 'While we recognise there will always be a role for nursing homes, we believe people should have the right to remain living in their own home for as long as they feel safe and are able to do so and be provided with supports, such as home care and community services. 'It is time for a serious, nationwide conversation about how we deliver care in this country. Our older people deserve, and must be guaranteed, the right to grow old with respect and dignity,' Boland added.
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
‘One Paper at a Time' - My leaving cert journey so far
English Paper 1 was the first hurdle, and thankfully, it played to my strengths. I used my background as a rugby player to answer Question B: a pre-match captain's talk. Drawing from real-life experience made the words flow easily. For the composition, I chose to write a speech debating the motion 'Truth has become a valueless currency in today's world'. The word 'valueless' threw me at first – I had to pause and really think it through – but I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did. I felt confident coming out of the exam. That first wave of relief walking out of the hall was unmatched. That confidence carried me into home economics, but this time, things were tougher. The food commodity question focused on cheese, which was not the topic I had hoped for. Like many others, I was banking on proteins, but we got lipids. I pushed through and answered every question, drawing on all the preparation we had done over the years. That night, I was absolutely shattered. I was mentally drained but full of hope. I woke up the next morning at 6am to study for English Paper 2 – the paper I had been dreading most. It felt like the real test, the one that could make or break me. My nerves were sky-high. I walked into the hall physically shaking, heart racing, palms sweaty. I whispered a quiet prayer and hoped for a fair paper. Like many others, I was hoping for Patrick Kavanagh, Gerard Manley Hopkins or Eavan Boland to appear in the poetry section. When I opened the paper and saw both Kavanagh and Boland, I was spoiled for choice. In the end, I went with Boland, a poet whose work I had really connected with throughout the year. The cultural context question on power and control suited me perfectly for the comparative section. Then came King Lear and a question on victims, which was right up my alley. The three hours and 20 minutes disappeared. I walked out of that exam hall with a grin from ear to ear. The hard work had paid off.
