Isn’t this the end? Are you done? At least that’s the case for Trent Boult.
“On my own behalf, this will be my last T20 World Cup,” Boult told the media after essentially setting the tone for a 2-7 win over Uganda.
His comeback in the T20 World Cup match was excellent. He has 32 wickets in 17 outings and has an economy rate of 6.07, the second highest among the tournament’s all-time top 10 wicket-takers.
Bolt, now 34, has played sporadically for the New Zealand national team since being released from his central contract almost two years ago. If this is his last T20 World Cup, the world might see his last appearance in the ODI World Cup as well. While the next T20 World Cup is set for 2026, the next ODI World Cup is scheduled for that year only. after.
New Zealand failed to qualify for the Super Eight at the tournament, but Boult still has one final T20 World Cup game remaining against Papua New Guinea on Monday.
The confirmation that Boult will not play in another T20 World Cup puts the future of the now aging New Zealand team into sharp focus. There are only three players in this squad who will be under 30 by the time the team returns home (Mark Chapman celebrates his birthday in the next few days).
It’s natural to wonder if this is the start of a turning point for New Zealand, especially after they failed to get out of the group. New Zealand has reached the semi-finals of every ODI and T20 World Cup since 2015.
Boult and Tim Southee played key roles in most of the campaigns. After this game (the pair bowled unchanged through the powerplay to leave Uganda 9 to 3, taking them on 5 for 11 from 8 overs), Boult said the opportunity for the pair to play together You said it as if you thought it was limiting. future.
He said, “I look back on my partnership with the team with very fond memories.” “We’ve bowled a lot of overs together. I know the partnership very well and obviously he’s a very good friend on and off the ground. It was nice to turn back the clock a little bit and see some swing bowling over the top. Some great memories. We have this and hopefully a few more to come.”
Earlier in the tournament, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was asked if he saw this tournament as the last for a generation and replied: “No, I think we still have some players left who will be here for a while.”
But at the very least, New Zealand will soon have to find a replacement for one of the fastest pacers of all time.
