Old man marvel Scott Boland exudes calmness whenever he has the ball in hand.
But that belies an inner fire that fuels the competitiveness of cricket’s ultimate reserve, a star who has bowled Australia to a dominant position in Gqeberha.
The oldest fast bowler to represent Australia since Ray Lindwall in 1960, the Victorian champion bewildered and befuddled batsmen far younger than him once again in a brilliant display that has seen him take four of the five Protea wickets to fall.
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He snared them nicking, tempted them into shots that were better left alone and blitzed them bowling both up and down the ridge when finishing with 4-31 from 15 overs as South Africa reached stumps on a day shortened to 30 overs at 5-97.
Prior to the Test Pat Cummins said the veteran was proving so treacherous in the nets Australia’s best batsmen could not believe he was not in the XI.
On Monday, former Protea Vernon Philander said he could not envisage him missing again.
“What an incredible return again by Scotty Boland,” Philander said while broadcasting on SEN.
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“He is sending a clear signal to the selectors. From here on end, I want to play every Test match. He has been so impressive.”
Asked afterwards whether it still hurt to be overlooked, as he was in the first Test, Boland made it clear he knows he is at an age where the end can come at any time, though he added the caveat that he is feeling in peak physical shape.
“I can’t speak for Nathan, but I want to play every game I can,” he said after winning the nod over Lyon for the second Test.
“I know I’m not 25, so I know that time’s probably running out a little bit. But we’ve got so many Tests over the next 12 months that I knew I was going to play a part somewhere.
“I want to play every Test, but I probably know that’s not 100 per cent realistic.
“I want to be ready for whenever I get my opportunity, and impact the game straight away.
Boland admitted his selection was not pre-planned.
“When I got here, I probably still didn’t think I was going to play until I thought maybe I was a chance the day before, and then obviously didn’t hear anything until (day one). But pumped to be back in the team.”
Boland took the opportunity with both hands on Sunday when removing Aiden Markram and David Bedingham, the Proteas who fired with the bat in Durban, in consecutive balls and on Monday was too good for debutant Marques Ackerman and Matthew Breetzke.
South African batting coach Ashwell Prince likened Boland to his former teammate Philander, the Protea singing the big Victorian’s praises, when saying he presented an extremely difficult challenge to batters.
It is remarkable given Boland recorded remarkable figures in his first 10 Tests, but the second ten matches of his career have been even better statistically. Playing in his 20th match, Boland now has 86 wickets at an average of 18.08.
“It reminds me a little bit of someone like Vernon Philander (because he) doesn’t miss his spot often. Because of his height – he is slightly shorter than the other guys – his balls are always in and around the top of off-stump,” Prince said.
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“Against taller guys, you can leave a lot more balls on length, but because he’s hitting the top of the stumps, there’s always that uncertainty as to whether it’s going over the top of the stumps that you can leave, or whether it’s hitting the top of the stumps, which means it drags you into playing at more balls.
“You might want to leave a few more, and as I say, he doesn’t leave his spot very often. He is so very consistent and he hits the seam. I mean, his record speaks for itself. I think the only thing that’s stopping him is that it’s quite hard for him to get in the line-up consistently.”
Boland had played a one-day game at St George’s Park a decade ago when, at the time, he was considered a potential white ball fixture for Australia.
But now ranked the world’s 9th ranked Test bowler, his ability to keep producing the goods for Australia when needed rested on shelving the format, which has allowed him to prime himself to perform for the nation in the purest format.
“I think that’s the beauty of only playing one format, is that I can pretty much just know what my games are going to be,” he said.
“I can build up towards that. I don’t have to worry too much about bowling yorkers or slow balls or things that put your action a bit out of whack, so it keeps my planning really easy.
“And then doing that with George (Bailey) and Ronnie (McDonald) and the physios and staff, I think it just gives me a really clear plan and I can sort of work my build up into the first Test or the second Test, whenever it is.
“At the moment, my body’s feeling really good. I know I’m 37 and the oldest fast bowler (who has) played for a while, but I still feel like I’m going really well. And my body is in a good spot. I feel like I can do it for as long as I can.”