Fifth Test, Day 1 highlights, results, latest updates; Steve Smith eyeing off 10,000-run milestone on home turf at SCG

Scott Boland has received enormous praise from former Australian coach Justin Langer, who posed the question about what would have happened in any other era.

The 33-year-old has become a cult figure for Aussie fans in recent years, despite only featuring at Test level sporadically as an injury replacement for Josh Hazlewood.

Boland finished with figures of 4-31 from 20 overs on the opening day of play against India at the SCG on Friday, again taking the prized scalp of Virat Kohli.

Speaking on 2GB's Wide World Of Sports Radio after stumps, Langer described the right-arm seamer as "elite" and believes he would have been a consistent international player if he wasn't playing in the same time as his counterparts.

"He's brilliant, I love him," Langer said.

"He's so mean on the field, but he's one of the most humble people you will ever meet.

"Just imagine if he had been born in any era before? He would have been playing every single Test."

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