Still as hungry as ever to represent New Zealand and do something special – Boult

New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult is looking to “play a big role” in the upcoming World Cup in India. The 34-year-old had opted out of the central contract around this time last year but finds himself back in the national fold after he was named in the ODI squad for the England tour, a tourney that will earmark New Zealand’s final preparations to achieve what they fell just short of in 2019.

“I’ve always had it in my mind to come back, and working towards an ODI World Cup, with the history involved there and the times that we’ve had in previous campaigns have been very exciting,” Boult, who last played an ODI in September last year, said on Thursday (August 10). “So just hungry to get involved and hopefully play a big role, just thinking about hopefully lifting something pretty shiny that we were pretty close to four years ago.”

Boult also looked back on his decision to forego the central contract and instead play franchise cricket around the world.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to make a year ago… to move away from the New Zealand Cricket bubble,” Boult said. “I never wanted it to be about New Zealand or franchise cricket. I just respected the fact that my career’s only so long and to try and make the most out of my remaining years as a bowler. I’m definitely still as hungry as ever to represent my country and hopefully do something special with the guys over the next couple of months.

“I still respect the international game immensely,” Boult added.”It plays a big role in any kid trying to come through and play cricket as a dream and the ODI World Cup is still the pinnacle in my opinion.

“I think everyone looks at T20 cricket and says ‘oh, it’s only 20 overs, or four overs as a bowler’… but it’s still about intensity and the training that goes into it, and the time away from home is the thing as well.

“When I made my decision to move away from my contract, it was to spend a bit more time at home, and it quickly became a lot of cricket around the world. I was very fortunate to take my family around the world and it’s been one of the best things, to flick through the camera roll and see the kids with cowboy hats on in Texas and in Rajasthan with turbans … it’s going to be something I’ll be pretty proud of in years to come.”

As he desired, Boult traveled extensively this last year and appeared in leagues all around the world, his latest stint being for MI New York in the Major Cricket League. He opened up on the experience and termed franchise cricket “pretty hard”.

“Franchise cricket… it isn’t taking over, but there’s a lot more of it. But I still think international cricket plays a massive role in earning you the right to get into the franchises and play.

“Franchise cricket can be pretty hard. You’re one or two performances away from being pushed out of the franchise and there’s hundreds of cricketers trying to come in behind you and take that role. There’s a lot at stake.”