Boland backed to bowl at death in ODIs

Victorian skipper Matthew Wade has been impressed with Scott Boland's death bowling and says his state teammate can deliver the same for Australia.

Scott Boland.

Victorian bowler Scott Boland is set to make his one-day international debut next week. (AAP)

Scott Boland is set to make his one-day international debut next week, with Matthew Wade expecting the paceman to thrive under the pressure of bowling at the death.

Australia's five-match ODI series against India starts in Perth on Tuesday, with the Gabba hosting the next clash.

It's likely Boland will play one of those games, if not both.

Victorian captain Wade couldn't be happier with the 26-year-old's call-up, having watched his development closely over the past two years.

"I sat down with him two years ago and (said) if you looked around the country ... there wasn't really anybody that could really finish an innings," Wade said on Friday.

"Scott was already pretty good at that with natural talent, then he's worked really hard over the last 18 months to hone those skills and be a finisher.

"That's probably got him picked in the Australian team.

"His death stuff has been outstanding. He'll own that and he'll hopefully dominate that for us."

Englishman Kevin Pietersen is likely to agree.

Pietersen described Boland and John Hastings' recent efforts for the Melbourne Stars as the best death bowling he'd seen.

Delivering it in the Big Bash League and doing it for Australia against MS Dhoni's star-studded side are obviously different propositions.

However, Wade is confident Boland's grounding has him well prepared to step up against India.

"Playing at smaller grounds like North Sydney Oval, he's really embraced the challenge of bowling at the end there," Wade said.

"Being put into pressure situations time and time again, he probably now feels a bit more calm.

"His progress over the last 18 months has been phenomenal."

Wade tipped the BBL would also help the next generation handle the heat of international cricket.

"They've just got to perform on the big stage. BBL helps with that a lot," the wicketkeeper said.

"80,000 at the MCG - that's international cricket kind of stuff - whereas five or six years ago, that probably wasn't there for the younger generation."

Boland has also shaped up off the park in recent years, dropping 22kg.

"He's put a lot of work into that," Wade said.

"If he gets his chance, he'll do exactly what he's done in domestic cricket.

"Perth and the Gabba are the first two games so he'll relish the opportunity to play at those grounds."


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Source: AAP


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