Friday night lights the ideal preparation for Boland

At 37 years old, Scott Boland knows exactly what his body needs.

Despite not being selected for either of last month's top-end Test matches against Bangladesh, the Victorian quick spent plenty of time in the nets as he planned exactly how he would manage his workload between Mackay and next month's first Test in Durban.

With a small freshen up following his return from Queensland, Victoria's historic One Day Cup clash against New South Wales under lights at Junction Oval was the game he circled as the ideal build up.

"I was pretty keen to have two weeks of no bowling after that (Bangladesh) series," Boland told reporters on Thursday.

"I felt like I was bowling really well in the nets and centre wickets up there (in Darwin and Mackay).

"So when that opportunity passed, I focused on what my reload looked like. I was going to be bowling around 10, 12 overs this time of the year before going (to South Africa) on Sunday.

"I think this game fit in really well." 

Boland explained the challenge of keeping himself ready when missing out on selection, as he did in that northern series, was more of a mental one, rather than physical.

"I don't think it's that hard when you only have two weeks off. I think it's a good little freshen up for the body, so I don't mind that," he continued.

"I think (it's) more mentally training when you know you're not going to play, when the Test starts and then I know I'm going to have two weeks off - that's the only tricky thing.

"But I look at it as if I nail that session, I give myself two weeks off bowling.

"I can get home and get back into family stuff instead of having to rush into training to try and chase some balls bowling." 

Boland's outlook on his management across the next 12 months is different to some of his teammates, as he pointed to Josh Hazlewood's desire to bowl consistently throughout this packed schedule. 

But the Victorian is equally aware that his "body will crash" without little breaks. It is when it extends to a longer period of time with no bowling that his approach shifts. 

"I think once I have a bigger break, I almost need a longer time to keep that reload going. So having those small breaks in between series, I think it's just going to be beneficial in the long run."

Boland is not the only star set to headline Victoria's huge public holiday game under Junction Oval's new lights, with Glenn Maxwell also suiting up.

But don't expect too much of a difference from Boland in his approach to the later stages of white-ball game.

"I think out of all the white ball games I've played in the last couple of years, I've only had to go to yorkers and slow balls maybe once or twice," he said.

"My focus is more on what I can do with a new ball at the start, and then hopefully everything goes well and I bowl out before that (the death overs).

"I've done still a fair bit of work on my slower balls and yorkers.

"But I think we've got a pretty good, well-rounded bowling group with 'Sutho' (Will Sutherland) and Sammy Elliott, and we've got some good spinners as well.

"Hopefully we can mix it up towards the end of the death if we get in that position."  

The Junction Oval clash begins at 2pm on Friday, September 25, which is the state's grand final public holiday. Tickets can be purchased here and at the venue, with MCC, Renegades and Stars members also able to present their membership card to gain access.

2026-27 One-Day Cup standings

Round 1

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	Drawn D	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 South Australia Men SA	2	1	0	0	0	1	0.14	0	0	0	6
2 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	2	1	1	0	0	0	2.452	0	0	0	5
3 NSW Men NSW	1	1	0	0	0	0	0.167	0	0	0	4
4 Victoria Men VIC	1	1	0	0	0	0	0.103	0	0	0	4
5 Western Australia Men WA	2	0	1	0	0	1	-4.863	0	0	0	2
6 Queensland Bulls QLD	2	0	2	0	0	0	-0.132	0	0	0	0

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points