Australian cricket team ke selectors ke saamne ek badi pareshani hai. World Test Championship (WTC) final jo June 11, 2025 ko Lord’s mein South Africa ke khilaaf hona hai, uske liye team ka final bowling spot abhi tak tay nahi hua hai. Scott Boland aur Josh Hazlewood, dono hi is ek jagah ke liye zor shor se lad rahe hain. Yeh dekhkar thodi si mayoosi hoti hai kyunki dono hi shandaar bowlers hain, aur ek ko bahar rakhna dil tootne wala faisla hoga. Boland ne khud kaha hai, “Main bas unka faisla jitna mushkil ho sake, utna mushkil karna chahta hoon.” Yeh baat dikhati hai ki unke dil mein kitni jidd hai, lekin saath hi yeh bhi dikhata hai ki unhe apni jagah ke liye kitni mehnat karni pad rahi hai.
Josh Hazlewood, jo ek world-class bowler hain, ne recently IPL mein Royal Challengers Bengaluru ke liye 22 wickets liye, aur unki team ne pehli baar title jeeta. Dusri taraf, Boland ko Sri Lanka tour par team mein nahi rakha gaya tha, jahan Australia ne ek fast bowler aur teen spinners ke saath khela. Isse Boland ke fans ke liye thodi si nirasha hui, kyunki unka talent sabko pata hai, lekin fir bhi unhe mauka nahi mila.
Lekin ab baat thodi badal rahi hai, aur ummeed ki kiran dikh rahi hai. Scott Boland ne apne aap ko ek baar fir se saabit kiya hai. Unki body ab 18 mahine baad pehli baar dard-mukt hai, jo unke liye ek badi jeet hai. Unhone kaha, “Ab main waisa bowl kar sakta hoon jaisa main chahta hoon. Mera ghutna bilkul theek hai, aur main apna best de sakta hoon.” Boland ne Border-Gavaskar Trophy mein India ke khilaaf teen Tests mein 21 wickets liye, jisme unka average sirf 13 tha. Yeh performance unhe ek shandaar option banata hai, khaas kar jab baat Lord’s ke seaming conditions ki ho.
Boland ka past record bhi unke haq mein bolta hai. 2023 WTC final mein India ke khilaaf, jab Hazlewood injury ke wajah se nahi khele, Boland ne five wickets liye aur Australia ke 209-run se jeet mein bada yogdaan diya. Yeh yaad dilata hai 2003 World Cup final ka, jab Australia ne India ko hara kar title jeeta tha, aur unki bowling ne match ko ek tarafa bana diya tha. Boland ka yeh performance dikhata hai ki jab mauka milta hai, toh woh uska poora fayda uthate hain.
Hazlewood bhi kam nahi hain. Unka Lord’s mein record shandaar hai, jahan unhone 13 wickets liye hain 26.15 ke average se. Unki bowling style, jo Glenn McGrath jaisi hai, Lord’s ke slope aur conditions ke liye perfect hai. Ravi Shastri ne bhi kaha hai ki Hazlewood ko Lord’s ke liye chunna chahiye kyunki woh wahan zyada effective ho sakte hain. Yeh baat Boland ke liye thodi chinta badhati hai, lekin saath hi unki mehnat aur dedication ko bhi ujaagar karti hai.
Lekin yahan ek baar fir chinta wali baat aati hai. Hazlewood ki fitness ab theek hai, aur IPL mein unki shandaar form unhe selectors ke liye pehli pasand bana sakti hai. Dusri taraf, Boland ne March ke baad koi competitive cricket nahi khela hai, jo unke liye ek chhota sa setback ho sakta hai. Hazlewood ke paas recent match practice hai, jabki Boland sirf net practice aur training camps par depend kar rahe hain. Yeh baat selectors ke faisle ko aur mushkil bana deti hai, lekin saath hi Boland ke liye thodi si mayoosi bhi laati hai.
Ian Healy ne bhi kaha hai ki Boland ab Hazlewood se aage nikal gaye hain, khaas kar jab baat fitness ki ho. Lekin agar Hazlewood fit hain aur form mein hain, toh selectors shayad unhe hi chune, kyunki unka experience aur Lord’s ka record unke haq mein hai. Yeh sochkar thodi si chinta hoti hai ki shayad Boland ka talent ek baar fir bench par reh jayega, jaisa ki 2023 Ashes ke pehle Test mein hua tha, jab Hazlewood ke wapas aane par Boland ko team se bahar hona pada.
Ant mein
Dono bowlers ke beech yeh jung dekhte hi banta hai. Boland apni consistency aur recent performances ke dam par selectors ko sochne par majboor kar rahe hain, jabki Hazlewood ka experience aur form unhe ek mazboot daavedaar banata hai. Yeh faisla na sirf team ke liye, balki fans ke liye bhi dilchasp hoga. Lekin end mein, ek hi bowler ko chuna jayega, aur doosra shayad bench par baithega, jo cricket ke is khel ka ek kathin sach hai.
