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Former Australian all-rounder Simon O’Donnell has joined the chorus of criticism against Cricket Australia’s decision to rule Test fast bowler and Melbourne Stars’ recruit Scott Boland out of Thursday’s Big Bash League season-opener.
Boland was named in the Stars’ 14-man squad for their clash against the Heat at the Gabba but will not take to the field after Cricket Australia put him on ice a week out from Australia’s first Test against Pakistan.
With Boland likely to miss the cut in Perth, Melbourne Renegades coach David Saker mounted a scathing attack on Cricket Australia, arguing that Boland should be permitted to play.
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“I can’t see how Scotty Boland bowling four overs is going to have a huge effect on him. And he’s been playing enough cricket,” he told NewsCorp.
Saker also called for more consistency and transparency around when Test players can and cannot feature for their clubs in the BBL.
“It seems to me at times it’s done on the run instead of long-term planning,” he said.
O’Donnell agreed with Saker, stressing that resting top talent weakens every level of cricket while demanding the governing body strike a balance.
“Four overs is certainly not going to kill him,” O’Donnell told SEN Breakfast.
“Cam Green didn’t bowl on the first day of the Prime Minister’s XI, I don’t know whether he’s carrying a slight injury. But I just hope that’s not being managed.
“Cam Green as a young cricketer should be saying, ‘Give me the pill. I want to try and get a four-for here and get my name back in contention for the Test side’.
“The other aspect that makes the water murky is there’s no red-ball cricket now until the end of January for anyone to impress on a domestic level.
“This filters down not just with Cricket Australia and the Big Bash, this filters down to state cricket and club cricket. Every aspect of cricket is being weakened by these guys being constantly rested under medical advice.
“We’ve got to find a happy medium here because it’s just not good enough.”
While O’Donnell understands that pace bowlers should have their load managed for their welfare, he finds it absurd that Boland has no say in the matter.
“This is a classic example, Scotty Boland is paid to bowl a cricket ball,” O’Donnell said.
“He’s being asked to bowl four overs, that’s 24 deliveries maximum and field for another 16 overs or be subbed out and sit down if need be.
“It seems ridiculous to me that he cannot make the choice to go and do that. There are too many examples of this going too far.
“People say, ‘Get up to the modern times or whatever’, but look, the bottom line is cricketers have got to play cricket.
“Yes, I think there is a load limit, but this is taking the load limit to ridiculous levels and the people making a decision on whether Scott Boland plays or not are the wrong people making a decision on whether he plays or not.
“He should be able to play and bowl 24 deliveries in that match and be part of promoting cricket as a high-profile cricketer in this country.”
Australia takes on Pakistan in the first Test against Pakistan in Perth, beginning Thursday, December 14.
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