Ashes 2021: Australia adds pacer Boland to squad for Melbourne test

There are concerns over Mitchell Starc's fitness after he tweaked his back in the second Test match of the Ashes.

Boland has been in strong form for Victoria this summer in Australia with 15 wickets from two matches.

Australia added fast bowler Scott Boland to its squad for the third Ashes test against England starting on Sunday in Melbourne amid concerns over Mitchell Starc's fitness after he tweaked his back in the second match.

Starc sustained the injury while batting in Adelaide but still claimed six wickets in the pink ball contest to help Australia prevail by 275 runs and go 2-0 ahead in the five-match series.

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"Boland has been training with the team in Adelaide and joins the squad while the medical team assesses the fast bowling group following the second test victory," Cricket Australia said in a statement on Tuesday.

Boland, who has played 14 one-dayers and three Twenty20 Internationals, has been in strong form for Victoria this summer in Australia with 15 wickets from two matches against New South Wales.

Australia was without Pat Cummins for the Adelaide test after the skipper was ruled out for being a close contact of a COVID-19 case, while fellow quick Josh Hazlewood was sidelined by a side strain sustained in the series opener in Brisbane.

Both return to the squad on Thursday ahead of the 'Boxing Day' test in Melbourne.