A cult hero from the moment he took 6-7 to seal the Ashes on his home ground three years ago, Boland has now put himself among the greats.
Boland's spell back in December 2021 came at a time when Australia as a country was battling, caught in the grip of the COVID crisis amid record numbers stuck at home with the virus.
But on the field, Boland ran through an England side clearly on its knees, as Australia took a 3-0 lead after three Tests to ensure they would retain the Ashes urn.
This week at the SCG, Boland's match haul of 10-76 has arguably been more important.
Scott Boland holds up the ball after his second innings haul of 6-45. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)
With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the line in the first Sydney series decider in 21 years, the 35-year-old was the most influential man on the park.
He took the four most crucial wickets in the first innings, removing rising star Yashasvi Jaiswal, megastar Virat Kohli, dashing wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and Melbourne century-maker Nitish Kumar Reddy.
And after India claimed a slender four-run first-innings lead, it was Boland who did the job again for Australia.
Brought on earlier than normal after a counter-attacking start from Jaiswal, Boland produced the ball of the match to bowl the left-handed opener.
He had Kohli out for a fifth time in five matches against him, and ran through India's top order on the evening of day two.
Any hope of India setting a target of above 200 on the third morning was then also killed off by Boland, who helped ensure the tourists lost their last three wickets for one run.
Most notable too was the fact Boland's second-innings 6-45 came as Mitchell Starc appeared to be tiring, after a rigorous five-Test summer left him with rib soreness out of Melbourne.
Scott Boland unleashes a delivery on day 3 at the SCG. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)
Boland, himself, remains ever modest, content only being called into Australia's side when one of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc or Josh Hazlewood are out.
His chance this time came due to Hazlewood's calf strain, but the calls are growing for him to have a more regular place in Australia's attack.
The Sydney returns marked his first 10-wicket haul in 13 years of first-class cricket, while he now has the eighth-best bowling average in the history of Test cricket with 17.66.
"It's just years of playing first-class cricket (that readies you for it)," Boland said.
"Fast bowling is pretty hard work, so you can't get too far ahead of yourself.
"You have as many bad days as there is good, so I'm just trying to ride this wave at the moment."
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