Image Credit- ICC
Although Trent Boult is not expected to play for New
Zealand in their home summer, head coach Gary Stead is optimistic about the
left-arm seamer’s return the following year.
In 2022, Boult resigned from his central contract with
New Zealand to pursue a career as a freelancer. However, he returned to the
national team for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, where New Zealand advanced
to the semifinals. But he has withdrawn from consideration for the next
assignment for New Zealand, a two-match Test series in Bangladesh that would
initiate a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both teams. Rather,
Boult will play in the Abu Dhabi T10 league for Deccan Gladiators. It’ll be his
first time playing in the T10 league.
“At this stage, Trent and I still need to have a
conversation,” Stead said after New Zealand lost to India in the World Cup
semi-finals in Mumbai. “He’s unavailable for the Bangladesh Test series.
He’s got other commitments in a T10 league, and then the UAE T20 league as
well. I think that eats right into the February time period.
“So, it looks unlikely that Trent will play too
much in our home summer. He may be available for the T20s against Australia. I
still need to have that conversation with him.”
Two T20I matches between New Zealand and Australia are
slated for February 2024 in Wellington and Auckland. These matches may take
place before the 2024 Indian Premier League, where Boult is one of the most
sought-after overseas seamers. The T20 World Cup, which takes place in the
Caribbean and the USA from June 4 to June 30, may come just after the IPL.
Stead hasn’t completely ruled out the prospect of Boult joining the New Zealand
team again soon.
“I think there’s every chance [we will see him
again] provided his desire is there to keep playing,” Stead said. “I
think he’s still a world class bowler.”