MCG-like wicket to suit Boland in Adelaide

Nathan Lyon says the MCG wicket Scott Boland has had success on is similar to the one likely to be used in Adelaide for the Test against West Indies.

Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon Picture: Twitter

So-called MCG specialist Scott Boland should feel at home bowling on an eerily similar Adelaide wicket if Australia opt against risking Pat Cummins against West Indies.

That is according to a man who should know, former Adelaide Oval curator Nathan Lyon who has noticed the similarities between the two pitches.

Cummins moved well through a 40-minute fitness test on his sore quad in Adelaide on Tuesday evening, but did not bowl in the team's net session that followed.

The quick would need to bowl on either Wednesday or Thursday morning before the Test begins to play, after being held back during the fourth innings against West Indies in Perth.

The bigger question also remains whether Australia would feel the need to roll Cummins out in Adelaide and risk further injury, with a busy summer ahead and little rest.

Australian cricket remains abuzz with the prospect of speedster Lance Morris making his debut in Cummins' place, after he was called into the squad as cover for the quicks.

But the smart money is on Boland playing if Cummins does not recover.

Picked for his good record at the MCG in last year's Boxing Day Test against England, Boland finished last summer with the outrageous career figures of 18 Test wickets at 9.55.

The Victorian, who also had a return of 4-51 with the pink ball in Hobart last summer, was the initial back-up option in the Test squad for the series against West Indies.

As for whether the skills he showed in Melbourne were transferable to the drop-in wicket in Adelaide, Lyon had no doubt.

"It's pretty similar to be honest," the spinner said, adding he would not be surprised if Adelaide curator and Lyon's former boss Damian Hough "had some conversations with the Melbourne curators about how to do drop-in wickets to his level".

"That wicket last year was pretty similar to an Adelaide wicket. It's probably the closest a drop-in MCG wicket has been," Lyon explained.

"So I am expecting pretty similar things if Scott gets the opportunity with the pink ball. I don't think many things will change.

"His confidence is up and so it should be."

Lyon also said Boland was a much more confident player now, after touring with Australia in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

"His skill set has always been at the top in my eyes," he said.

"He hits me in the pad for fun when I play him in state cricket. But what I see in Scott now is his confidence level has gone up a little."

Boland bowled well under lights in Tuesday night's net session, with Mitchell Starc also having a brief run while Josh Hazlewood stayed in the gym.

Both Hazlewood and Starc bowled in excess of 40 overs in Perth, and Australia does not have more than a four-day gap between any Tests this summer.

If one was to be rested, it is then likely Morris or fellow addition Michael Neser would be called upon.

Neither bowled on Tuesday night, with short turnarounds out of Sheffield Shield games.

"I played against (Morris) a couple of weeks ago and he bowls fast," Lyon said.

"He has every chance of playing as well. His skill set is up there with the best. It's all about him having this opportunity to learn."