Veteran New Zealand seamer Trent Boult will return to play ODIs for New Zealand after almost a year in the 4-ODI series against England in England in September, less than a month out from the World Cup 2023.
This is a big indication that Trent Boult, who doesn’t hold a contract with the New Zealand Cricket board, will still feature in the ODI World Cup 2023, starting October 5th in India.
Trent Boult last played ODI for New Zealand in September 2022. In August last year, he had told the NZC to release him from the central contract which would allow him to play T20 leagues around the world at his own will without the national commitments overlapping.
This year, Trent Boult has featured for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2023 and recently played for MI New York in their triumphant MLC 2023 campaign in the USA, where he was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
Trent Boult has picked up 188 wickets in his 99-ODI career so far
The left-arm seamer was a crucial part of the New Zealand side that reached the finals of the 2015 World Cup and the 2019 World Cup. In 19 matches across the two ODI World Cups, Boult snapped up 39 wickets at an average of 21.
Along with Boult, returning for New Zealand is lanky pacer Kyle Jamieson, who also hasn’t played an ODI for almost a year and has been out due to multiple back injuries.
With Kane Williamson absent as he’s recovering from a leg injury, Tom Latham will continue to lead New Zealand in the ODIs. Williamson has recently started batting again and will join the side in England to continue his rehabilitation. New Zealand are not rushing to bring back Williamson, but they haven’t also ruled him out of the World Cup 2023 just yet.
The return of Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson is a big boost to New Zealand with the World Cup approaching.
ew Zealand coach Gary Stead said: “It’s also great to welcome Trent back into our ODI unit as he begins his preparation towards the World Cup in India. It’s always been our plan in talking with Trent, along with a whole lot of other people around what their plan looks like for each individual, and Trent and I have talked that this is the right build-up for him as we lead towards that World Cup. We’re still trying to be adaptable and flexible to what those players’ needs are and we certainly haven’t closed the door on anyone and this is a good example of Trent coming back and being part of our squad as we build up to the pinnacle event.”
New Zealand ODI squad for England: Tom Latham (capt), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Will Young
