Boland reveals key to red-hot Shield form

Scott Boland has cited his improved fitness as a key factor behind his sparking form in the JLT Sheffield Shield this season.

The Victoria paceman is the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 36 at an outstanding average of 17.41 from six games, putting him eight clear of teammate Chris Tremain.

Boland said he had shed 5kg since representing the Aboriginal XI on their tour of the UK this year.

The 29-year-old claimed a season’s-best 7-54 against South Australia and grabbed 6-49 against NSW. He also has two four-wicket hauls to his name and has helped Victoria take ownership of top position on the ladder.

Boland said his fitness focus over the off-season had helped him reach new heights with the red ball during the first half of the Shield campaign.

“I have had a bit more of a focus on my fitness and mainly gym work because I feel like when I’m bowling well I feel really strong,” Boland told RSN’s Breakfast Club on Tuesday.

“Obviously with me and ‘Trem’ playing probably the last two or three Shield seasons, we’ve probably been the two most consistent quicks in our team and probably played every game.

“So we know how hard it is on our bodies to try and get through the 10 Shield games.

“You end up bowling close to 500 overs just in the Shield season alone, so it is quite hard on your body.”

Boland was the third highest Shield wicket-taker in 2017-18 with 38, while Tremain topped the bowlers with 51.

But he has combined his nagging accuracy with increased pace this season, putting him in contention for higher honours.

Boland has represented Australia in 14 ODIs and three T20Is, but has never played a Test with Australia’s star trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins the first picked.

Peter Siddle and Tremain were named in Australia’s 14-man squad as the back-up pacemen for the first two Domain Tests against India.

“I feel like I’ve been in a pretty good rhythm so far this summer,” Boland said.

“I think there were just tiny little changes in my action, a couple of bad habits, that were creeping in last year.

“I’ve been able to change them and make the little changes I wanted to over the off-season.

“I know when I’m bowling a bit more upright and I’m feeling strong at the crease, the ball does come out quicker and I get a bit more bounce, so that’s sort of been my focus coming into every game.”

Boland said he had received “a few messages” from Australia’s Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns.

“Just after some games saying ‘well done’ and stuff like that. It’s nice to get a bit of feedback,” he said.

James Pattinson, who has nine wickets at 33 in his four games back for Victoria, is another impressing after undergoing serious back surgery.

“He’s so good for our team. He gets us up and about all the time,” Boland said.

“I think teams are quite intimidated by him and you can see when he bats, he goes out there and no one really says much to him.

“He’s quite intimidating.

“He’s done so much hard work over the winter to get his body right or even from last summer. He had that surgery in November (last year).

“When he’s on song, he’s a class above everyone else in state cricket.”

Boland will now turn his attention to KFC Big Bash League commitments with the Melbourne Stars.