Scott Boland has earned selection in Australia's 13-man squad for the opening Test against India, keeping the door open on adding to his international red-ball career despite limited opportunity across the past 12 months.
The Gulidjan quick, 35, has held his spot as the selector's preferred seam candidate outside long-time trio Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and skipper Pat Cummins, following modest figures in Australia A's six-wicket win over India A at the MCG last week.
Boland ended with figures of 1-87 across two innings, sending experienced Indian test bat Lokesh Rahul back to the stand early on the opening morning amid toppling wickets at the top of the tourists order.
The match was widely tipped as a trial for the vacant opener spot in Australia's test order following David Warner's retirement - a task which looks set for South Australian Nathan McSweeney to take on, with white-ball keeper Josh Inglis also coming into the squad.
Boland travelled with the Test side across five home matches and a two-match series in New Zealand last summer without breaking into the XI, last featuring during the opening two matches of the 2023 Ashes in the UK.
He left camp to return across the Tasman in a bid to help Victoria progress to a Sheffield Shield final in March, having played one red ball game for the state to start the current summer following a County Championship stint with Durham ending with injury after a sole appearance.
Boland said his "body feels really good" after his first red ball game back from injury for the Vics last month.
"Scott has been a top-level performer when given the opportunity at Test level and remains a valued member of the squad," Cricket Australia chair of selectors George Bailey said on the squad announcement, Sunday.
"The squad is balanced and provides Andrew (McDonald, Australian men's coach) and Pat the options required for what shapes as a captivating series."
Former selection rival Michael Neser suffered a hamstring injury on the opening day of the Australia A match after a devastating opening spell and 4/27 on the scoresheet.
The Test squad announcement came on the same day Kamilaroi former test quick Jason Gillespie claimed a historic series win on Australian shores in charge of the Pakistan men's ODI side.
After consecutive failures with the bat from Australia, Pakistan cruised to a 2-1 one day series win in Perth on Sunday afternoon.
Gillespie, who was appointed Pakistan's Test head coach in April, took the reins for the bilateral ODI-T20 series after the abrupt exit of white ball coach, former South African international Gary Kirsten, who resigned barely six months after taking on the role.
The uptake in responsibility came after revealing he was no longer a selector for the Test side, despite remaining head coach.
Speaking to ABC Grandstand last week, Dizzy described his role with Pakistan as "no doubt" the most challenging coaching role of his post-playing career.
His limited overs responsibility came a "pretty turbulent" five to six week period, he said.
"What I've learned is you've really got to - in Pakistan cricket, just go with the flow because things change very, very quickly," Gillespie said.
"You know, I'm the sort of person who who likes to swing for a goal, but, but I'm learning that I need to float with the tide, so to speak."
The pace icon said he is "learning a lot" in a new environment with unfamiliar process, and described appreciation for the "resilience" of Pakistan players.
On Sunday, the side clinched their first series win in Australia for 22 years, chasing the home side's 140 with 23 overs and eight wickets in hand.
They move on to three T20s starting on Thursday.
