Opinion

Sports journalist for The Age October 27, 2026 — 7:04pm

October 27, 2026 — 7:04pm

There is something about the axing of Scott Boland and the retention of Marnus Labuschagne for the series-deciding Test in South Africa that doesn’t make sense.

Boland was squeezed out of the XI after taking 5-81 and making a defiant 40 in a three-hour vigil as night watchman. Labuschagne lives to fight another day after wasting a start in the second innings, extending his century drought to 47 innings across 39 months.

Australia’s Scott Boland is coming off a five-wicket haul. AP

Boland has the misfortune of playing in the same era as three Australian fast-bowling greats in Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc. In that respect, he is the Stuart MacGill of his time, coming into the attack only when one of the trio is injured or in seaming conditions, in place of Nathan Lyon.…