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LIVE: Australia's "hired assassin" backed to take 25 wickets
SEN • November 21st, 2025 10:16 am
They time for talk is over. The 2025-26 Ashes are here, it's day one of the opening Test in Perth and Australia's Scott Boland is being backed to take "25 wickets plus" this series.
SEN cricket expert Bryce McGain made the prediction in his final preview of what fans can expect to witness at Optus Stadium, where Boland will be front and centre given the injuries to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
Australia's back-up bowler, who boasts the best bowling average in Test cricket since 1915, is a guaranteed starter against England.
"Boland is going to have a mighty series," McGain said on SEN Breakfast. "He is just about bullet proof.
"He is a calm gentleman on the outside, inside there is a fire burning. He will prove to that English team he is a different person to deal with in Australia.
"It'll be 25 wickets plus for Scotty this series, he is going to be dynamic."
Boland's first coach Nick Jewell, from Frankston-Peninsula Cricket Club echoed McGain's thoughts when asked about the transformation he has seen since he first met the star, nicknamed "barrel".
"His transformation over two years was hard to believe," Jewell told the BBC. "He is almost like a hired assassin. He is so calm, cool and collected.
"You very rarely see a change in his attitude or demeanour whether it is going good or bad.
"At times you thought as a coach, 'Am I getting through to this bloke?' but you saw it in the changes in his game and performances."
Brendan Doggett and Jake Weatherald will debut for Australia and while some believe the inexperience will give England the edge, McGain warns not to under estimate anyone on the field.
"It’s not going to be easy for England but there are two debutants but that’s where you want to hone in," he continued.
"These aren’t little boys hopping in and we hope they do well, cross fingers. These are seasoned pros, they have done this year on year."
We will be live throughout the first Test, follow along for all the latest.
