New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has given a major hint on the availability of the veteran fast bowler Trent Boult in the T20 World Cup 2024. He said that the Kiwi pacer is likely to join the team in the event slated to happen in the USA and West Indies.
“I was texting with him last [Saturday] night actually,” Stead said. “Trent and I are going to have a conversation this week just around the future and what that looks like for him and where it fits for us as well. We’re still to have those, but we will connect this week and will work out. He could be available but I’m not 100% sure.”
Trent Boult declined a central contract from New Zealand in 2022 and has been working on a freelance basis with the team since then.
Boult participated in the T20 World Cup 2022 and subsequently rejoined the national team in preparation for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Despite his return, he faced challenges in making a significant impact, largely attributed to the absence of swing and seam conditions in the slow pitches of India.
Boult will be absent from the Test series against South Africa, with Stead acknowledging the challenge of a Test comeback for Boult without adequate match practice.
“Again I will have a conversation with Trent but at the moment, I think probably not. It’s very hard to see how you come from a T20 diet back into Test consideration with no cricket before that,” Stead said.
