MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 28: Scott Boland of Australia appeals successfully for LBW to dismiss Jonny Bairstow of England during day three of the Third Test match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 28, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Australian quick Scott Boland required painkillers to play through the final two days of the fourth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Picked to debut on his home turf at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day, Boland has had a miraculous start to his Test career, taking the incredible figures of 14 for 121 at an average of 8.64 and a strike rate of 23.6 during his first two matches.
The 32-year-old, who has been a consistent force for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield over the last three years was thought of as a one-Test replacement for Melbourne, but his incredible figures, and Josh Hazlewood's ongoing injury problem, forced the selector's hand.
It has now been revealed that Boland needed painkillers after a nasty fall while bowling in the first innings o the match.
Coach Justin Langer described the injury as "to the cartilage between his ribs," according to a Sydney Morning Herald report.
It's understood Boland could play the Hobart Test, but would need painkillers to make it through the match, and it's also unclear how many overs he could bowl.
It's reported that he is unlikely to play if Cricket Australia medical staff put any restrictions on the number of overs he can bowl.
With Hazlewood out for the remainder of the series, and Jhye Richardson reportedly still unable to recover from his own injury, it would appear likely Michael Neser could play his second pink ball Test of the summer, having originally played in place of Pat Cummins in Adelaide after the skipper was forced into isolation over a coronavirus exposure.
A decision on Boland's fitness is expected by Thursday.