NEWS
Follow UsGary Stead, New Zealand cricket coach, indicated that Trent Boult could make a return to the Kiwi squad for the ODI World Cup later this year.
Boult opted out of a New Zealand Cricket contract last year, which enabled him to play in the lucrative Big Bash League in Australia. He was not included in the list of players offered a central deal on Thursday, instead signing a "casual playing agreement", New Zealand Cricket said.
The Black Caps' coach felt that the arrival of Boult would be a shot in the arm for the NZ bowling attack. Along with Tim Southee, Boult could resume his strike partnership in India.
"We are having positive conversations with Trent, he's indicated he's available for the World Cup," Stead told reporters.
"From our perspective, he's one of the best ODI bowlers in the world so barring injury, I think it's highly likely that he would be part of our squad."
Boult, 33, is one of the world's best ODI bowlers having taken 187 wickets at the highest level. He also has 74 T20I wickets to boot that.
After being released from his central contract last year, Boult was omitted from the New Zealand squad for this year's drawn home Test series with England and the 2-0 win over Sri Lanka despite playing for the Black Caps at the 2022 Twenty20 World Cup.
Stead said Boult, who has taken 317 Test wickets, could still return to the Black Caps' five-day squad for next year's home series against South Africa, then Australia.
"That's still being discussed at the moment. Trent has other leagues he is committed to, so we are just working through that and exactly what it will mean," Stead added.
"He's indicated a willingness to play."
