Scott Boland admitted that he would never have imagined that he would be opening the batting at the MCG during a Boxing Day Test against England.
But on Friday, that dream became a reality for the Victoria pace bowler.
The hometown hero sent fans inside the MCG into meltdown as he emerged from the tunnel alongside his team-mate Travis Head to open the batting in Australia’s second innings.
In front of a record 94,199 fans at the MCG, the 36-year-old had already starred with the ball in hand, taking three wickets to help Australia bowl England out for 110 runs.
But with 20 minutes left to play, Australia were required to face one final over before stumps, with Boland entering the field as a night watchman.
‘I never thought I’d open the batting with Travis Head at the MCG in front of 95,000. But that was awesome,’ Boland said to Triple M Cricket.
Scott Boland (pictured) admitted that he had never imagined that he would open the batting at the MCG during an Ashes Test
Boland (left) walked out to bat with Travis Head (right) during Australia’s second innings
‘I got told I was going to go out there. I think when you’re in that position, it’s only one over and you want to protect your batters. So I was happy to go out there for one over.’
Gus Atkinson picked up the new ball, while Boland took the striker’s end, as the fans watched on in anticipation.
The Victoria fast bowler clipped a lofted ball over to short leg, with a huge gasp going up around the MCG, but no one was there to catch it.
Boland regathered his focus and defended the next three balls well. Each time he swatted away Atkinson’s advances, the Melbourne crowd cheered in celebration.
Another nervy moment came again in the fifth delivery of the over, with Boland edging to the slips. The ball carried to Jacob Bethell at fifth slip, but the Englishman couldn’t take the catch, giving the Aussie bowler a reprieve.
And Boland would make England pay for the error, clipping an outside edge off for four to send the MCG into meltdown.
‘I knew I only had to face six balls and I was only going to stay out there for an over,’ Boland said, reflecting on being cheered off the pitch by the MCG crowd.
‘So I knew what my job was and I think when you face the new ball, they’re generally going to pitch it up. So that’s one thing I’m happy to do for the team.
It came after the Victoria hero took three wickets to help the home side bowl England out for 110 runs
‘I knew I only had to face six balls and I was only going to stay out there for an over,’ Boland said, reflecting on being cheered off the pitch by the MCG crowd
‘I don’t really like doing night watchman when it’s about 30 minutes. But for one over it’s OK.
‘The crowd at the ‘G is amazing. I think they said 95,000, the highest they’ve had for a Test match. Obviously, getting sent in to bat, we didn’t want that result but I think we’re in a pretty good position now.’
Despite a couple of nervy moments, Boland performed brilliantly in the middle, having also taken three wickets at an economy of 3.33.
‘It was a no-brainer sending Scotty out there to take that last over,’ fellow fast bowler Michael Neser said after the match.
‘I know as a tail-ender that it is our job sometimes to do that sort of role.
‘Scotty, you don’t even have to ask him, he ran down and put his pads on.’
Up in the commentary box, Aussie great Adam Gilchrist hailed the Victoria star, saying: ‘He plays his cricket out here like it’s his own backyard.
‘He owns the MCG at the moment it seems.
‘I think Pat Cummins running out was just an inquiry, Boland was off the field when that last wicket fell.
‘I think they were asking if he was allowed to open the batting.’
Boland had walked out of the tunnel with a big grin etched on his face as the fans cheered their hero.
He’ll return to the crease on Saturday morning as Australia look to increase their 46-run lead on England into day two.
