Boland Says Root Is England Player to Keep Quiet as Ashes Mind Games Heat Up

Boland Says Root Is England Player to ‘Keep Quiet’ in Crucial Ashes Battle

As the Ashes countdown ticks toward the first ball in Perth, the familiar pre-series mind games have begun—and this time, Scott Boland has made it clear who Australia will be keeping an especially close eye on. According to the veteran fast bowler, Joe Root remains the England batter Australia most need to “keep quiet” if they are to set the tone in the opening Test and beyond.

Root, one of England’s greatest-ever run-scorers, arrives in Australia under an unusual spotlight. For all his brilliance and longevity, he has never scored a Test hundred on Australian soil—a stat that the local press have been keen to amplify in the build-up to Friday’s opener. And while England’s new-era aggression under Ben Stokes has changed the rhythm of their batting lineup, Root still stands as the heartbeat of their middle order.

“You always want to take down the best players,” Boland said, speaking with the calmness of a man who has delivered on this stage before. “In the past when Joe Root has been captain you want to try to make sure they have as little impact as you can. England have quite a few good batters we’ll be looking to do that to.”

It’s a familiar tactic from an Australian perspective. Glenn McGrath made a career of singling out England’s key batters before a series. Michael Clarke famously instructed his bowlers to suffocate Alastair Cook when Australia whitewashed England 5-0 in 2013-14. Now, with the Ashes returning down under and England arriving with a radically different approach, the psychological tone-setting continues.

And Boland, who dismissed Root four times in the last Ashes series in Australia, didn’t hesitate to highlight his target: “Hopefully we can keep Joe Root and the guys in the middle-order pretty quiet.”

Boland’s Extraordinary Rise—and the One Series He Wants Back

Scott Boland’s own Ashes story is one of the most remarkable in modern Test cricket. The 36-year-old was a late bloomer by Australian standards, earning his Baggy Green just ahead of the 2021-22 series, but what he produced thereafter bordered on mythical.

His debut at the MCG, where he ripped through England with spellbinding figures of 6-7, instantly wrote him into Ashes folklore. By the end of the series, he had 18 wickets at an extraordinary average of 9.55. In terms of overall career statistics, his average remains at a scarcely believable 16.53 after 62 wickets in just 14 Tests. Only George Lohmann and Sydney Barnes—both from the 19th and early 20th centuries—have taken as many wickets at a better average.

But even the great stories have their stumbles. Boland’s one significant blemish came during the 2023 Ashes in England, where he struggled to adapt to the Bazball-driven aggression. His two wickets across the series cost 115.50 runs each—a striking contrast to his dominance on home soil.

“I learned a lot,” Boland reflected. “I’ve looked back at that tour a fair bit. There will be tweaks to my gameplan… but I don’t think I need to change too much. I just need to execute a bit better.”

Asked whether he feels he has something to prove, he paused and then smiled: “Only to myself.”

That honesty has always been part of Boland’s appeal. Direct, humble, no theatrics—just a craftsman who knows his strengths and sticks to them.

Australia Forced Into Change—But Boland Ready to Lead the Attack

At the start of the summer, few expected Boland to be in Australia’s starting XI for the first Test. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, when fit, remain automatic selections. But injuries to both have opened the door, and Boland now finds himself stepping into a leadership role alongside Mitchell Starc.

The third seamer is likely to be Brendan Doggett, a 31-year-old journeyman with ample first-class experience but no Test caps. His selection speaks to the strength of Australia’s overall fast-bowling program—depth, physicality, and a consistent pipeline of quicks capable of stepping into big moments.

“Obviously you don’t want to be missing two great players like Josh and Pat,” Boland admitted. “Our bowling stocks have been really strong for a long time—no one has been able to break in. It’s going to be an exciting time. A new guy or two will get a look in.”

Doggett may be new to Test cricket, but he is not green. Boland emphasised his readiness: “He’s played a lot of first-class cricket. He knows his game.”

Cummins, meanwhile, looked strong in Monday’s training session and is expected to return for the second Test in Brisbane.

Conditions in Australia Will Test England’s Aggression

The surface at Perth Stadium is expected to be lively—true bounce, plenty of pace, and a breeze that rewards bowlers who hit the deck hard. But perhaps the biggest adjustment for England’s batters won’t be the pitch, but the sheer size of Australian grounds.

With England’s aggressive approach under Stokes and McCullum encouraging players to hit long and hit often, Boland believes the outfield dimensions could play a crucial role.

“Balls that would go over the fence in England have a longer way to go at grounds like here, the MCG, and the Gabba,” he said. “It’s the same for them. Their bowlers when they bowl their short balls, you have to hit it 85 metres instead of 65.”

In other words: the margin for error shrinks, and the reward for precision grows.

That calculation could weigh heavily on both teams, particularly in pressure moments.

Root’s Challenge: Rewrite His Australian Record

While much of the focus is understandably on Boland’s rise, this Ashes opener presents a significant personal milestone for Joe Root, too. For all his runs—more than 11,000 in Test cricket—Australia has remained the one place where he has yet to produce a truly defining innings.

Root has scored fifties, absorbed pressure, and played important supporting knocks, but a hundred down under remains the missing achievement in an otherwise glittering career. His composure will be vital if England are to blunt Australia’s fast-bowling trio and set a platform on a ground that rarely forgives loose technique.

And with Australia openly targeting him once again, the challenge becomes even more enticing.

Root has made a career out of defying expectation. Now, he has the chance to silence the only cricketing conversation that continues to follow him.

The Stage Is Set

Friday’s opener promises everything the Ashes should offer: hostility in the stands, drama with the ball, nerves with the bat, and characters ready to step into the spotlight. Boland has already set the tone with his message about Joe Root. England, refreshed and fearless, will be eager to respond.

But one thing is certain—Scott Boland will be central to whatever unfolds. A bowler who came from nowhere to dominate the world now finds himself again with something to prove, even if only in his own mind.

And somewhere in the visiting dressing room, Joe Root will be readying himself for another chance to rewrite his Australian story.