"Very, very happy for Nitish" - Australian seamer reacts to hundred from all-rounder in BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Veteran Australian seamer Scott Boland hailed Nitish Kumar Reddy for his fighting hundred on Day 3 of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test in Melbourne. The Victorian observed that the youngster thrived in tough conditions and he also expects the ton to be remembered for a long time.

Reddy walked in when India were 191/6 on the third day and dug in to help their side fight back alongside Washington Sundar. The 21-year-old got to the magical three-figure mark with a boundary down the ground off Boland off 171 deliveries, leaving the entire Indian camp in awe. His unbeaten 105 helped India avoid the follow-on and whittle the deficit to 116 at stumps on Day 3.

Speaking at a post-day presser, Boland stated that it's inevitable for India to fight on as any other side will. He said as quoted by Fox Cricket:

"That’s something that has been instilled in all of us, that no matter what situation we are in, we’ll just fight, no matter what. And playing for India, especially in a ground like the MCG (on) a big occasion against Australia (in the) Boxing Day Test, we will do no matter what it takes for us to be in a good position. Today was definitely good today. It was very, very hard (and) I’m very, very happy for Nitish. He got an unbelievable hundred, honestly, and I’m sure this will be remembered forever."

Nitish Reddy's father, who was present at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), was quite emotional and burst into tears after his son reached the landmark.

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"It could have been better" - Scott Boland on Australia's lead at MCG

Scott Boland. (Image Credits: Getty)

When asked whether the pitch will spin more as the game progresses, Boland says he hopes it does. The right-arm pacer suggests that Australia will need a sizeable lead to put pressure on India.

"I’m not too sure if it’s going to spin too much more. I think there’s a … decent amount of grass on there, so I’m definitely hoping it spins a lot more, but I think hopefully there’ll be some variable bounce just as the Test match wicket gets a bit more tired. That’d be ideal for us as a bowling group. We’re leading by 115 runs, so (we are) in a pretty strong position," he continued.

"Obviously, it could have been better, but I think that’s Test match cricket. It ebbs and flows. Hopefully tomorrow morning, we get that first wicket and then (we can) build on that and put on a really nice lead and see how the game plays out after that," Boland concluded.

Australia's first task on Day 4 will be to take the final wicket at the earliest before scoring quick runs in the second innings to eke out a result in their favor.