Overview
- Answering a fan in a Grassroot Cricket rapid‑fire, Boland said Pant’s mix of slogging and dead‑batting the same delivery makes him exceptionally hard to plan for.
- The remark landed during a wild opening day at the MCG in which 20 wickets fell, with Australia resuming their second innings at 4 for 0 and a 46‑run lead.
- England seamer Josh Tongue produced a career‑best 5 for 45 to bowl out Australia for 152 on a grassy surface after Ben Stokes chose to field.
- Boland impacted England’s reply with three wickets in his first spell, then ended the day as nightwatchman on 4 not out.
- Boland has dismissed Pant twice in the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, a recent history that underpins the high regard in his appraisal.