Photo Credit: Cricket NSW
Australia’s Steve Smith has credited both Michael Neser and Scott Boland with having the skills to excel in English conditions.
Both players are in the Australia squad for the upcoming World Test Championship, with Neser having replaced the injured Josh Hazlewood from the initial 15-strong playing group.
And Neser, who has impressed for Glamorgan in County Cricket this season, has all of the attributes to make an impact against India at The Oval this week, according to Smith.
“[I’ve got] so much faith, he is a quality performer,” Smith said.
“I faced him against Glamorgan a couple of weeks ago and he bowled beautifully.
“He has got great skills and he’s added some of the inswingers we have seen him bowl when the wicket is a bit flatter.
“So he has got loads of skills and is batting nicely as well, so he is a great package. If he gets an opportunity he will certainly do a very good job.”
Scott Boland has enjoyed a superb Test career so far, picking up 28 wickets at an average of 13.42 in just seven matches to-date.
All of those wickets have come in Australian conditions, but Boland’s style of bowling also makes him a valuable asset for Australia should he picked for the Final, says Smith.
“I think we will get what Scotty does pretty well,” Smith said.
“He hits a good length, hits the top of the stumps, seams the ball around, swings it if he wants to and he has got great skills as well.
“No doubt he will be a challenge if he gets the nod.”
India’s attack is without the injured Jasprit Bumrah, but Smith believes in Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj they have two bowlers who are well-suited to getting the best out of an early-season English pitch.
“They have got a good mix of quality seam bowlers, with Shami and Siraj probably their two main guys,” Smith said.
“They have really good skills and the Dukes ball will suit them nicely. And then obviously their spinners as well, who bowl well in all conditions.
“So I think they have a good attack and we are going to have to play well against them this week.”
Australia are competing in the first World Test Championship Final having missed out on a top two finish in the 2021 edition.
And Smith is relishing the opportunity to play in a match that he believes is adding more relevance to Test cricket.
“It’s really important. The World Test Championship now, having the two best teams playing in the final, I think it’s great.
“It adds a little bit more relevance I suppose to Test cricket. It’s what we all work towards for a couple of years and I think this week’s going to be an exciting one, the guys are looking forward to it.
“To play in a Final of the World Test Championship is pretty special, but until we get out there and get started I don’t know how it’ll feel.
“It’s been a good build-up over the last few days down in Beckenham, and we get a hit out at the Oval today and tomorrow so we’re looking forward to that. It should be a really good week.”
The World Test Championship Final between India and Australia begins at 11am local time on Wednesday 7 June at The Oval in South London.
