LIVE: Hazlewood 'example' gives Boland the nod

Twelve months aft helium burst onto the planetary Test scene, Scott Boland volition get the accidental to replicate his 2021 heroics erstwhile the Boxing Day Test gets underway successful Melbourne this morning.

Josh Hazlewood connected Christmas Day ruled himself retired of today's 2nd Test against South Africa, allowing Boland to play his location Test.

Skipper Pat Cummins said Hazlewood's determination was wholly his own.

"We gave Joshy each chance, (but) it conscionable got to a signifier wherever (he) much than anyone other felt similar helium was a small spot underdone," helium said.

"It's a people of the antheral truly - helium himself said 'I don't consciousness rather right' truthful helium benignant of pulled himself retired of selection.

"We speech a batch astir however (as) a squad we request a squad mentality and I deliberation it's different large example."

Boland made a imagination Test debut against England successful the Boxing Day fixture past summer. He took 1-48 successful the archetypal innings, earlier astir single-handedly destroying England successful the second, taking a sensational 6-7 from conscionable 4 overs.

Cummins said selectors were yet to marque a determination either mode erstwhile Hazlewood made the call. 

"We didn't truly get to the determination point, we gave it capable clip and it played out.

"There would person been a portion of everyone that would've felt a small spot aggrieved if Scott missed out."

Meanwhile, Mark Taylor said the Boxing Day assemblage would beryllium boosted by the tributes to Shane Warne planned passim time one.

Fans are being encouraged to deterioration a floppy chapeau and the achromatic zinc - Warne's signature on-field look - portion players volition bash the aforesaid successful a tribute earlier play.

Warne's playing fig 350 has been painted connected the outfield, and a touching tribute volition beryllium shown connected the large surface astatine 3.50pm this afternoon.

Taylor said this year's Boxing Day Test was capping disconnected a bittersweet twelvemonth for Australian cricket.

"We mislaid a fig of greats, nary greater than Warnie. I deliberation (the tributes) volition beryllium terrific for the crippled and terrific for the Warne family," helium said connected TODAY.

"I deliberation a batch of radical volition crook retired with their floppy whites. I person specified large memories of Warnie here, playing with him, taking a chapeau instrumentality here, his 700th trial wicket erstwhile I was fortunate capable to beryllium down the microphone. So galore large memories. 

"He loved playing present and entertaining people, and helium peculiarly loved entertaining his location fans astatine the MCG. 

"It volition beryllium a peculiar time for trial lucifer cricket and for the Warne family."