New Zealand’s left-arm pacer Trent Boult has announced his retirement from future ICC Men’s T20 World Cup appearances after New Zealand’s unexpected first-round exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Despite a strong win against Uganda in their last group match, Boult decided to call it quits, stating, “This will be my last T20 World Cup.”
Boult has been a key bowler for New Zealand across formats, boasting 317 Test wickets, 211 ODI wickets, and 81 T20I wickets. Although he opted out of a central contract with New Zealand Cricket in recent years, he continued to play in major tournaments.
Former New Zealand player and commentator Ian Smith expressed that replacing Boult would be a significant challenge for New Zealand cricket. Smith likened Boult’s impact to that of Sir Richard Hadlee, New Zealand’s legendary all-rounder.
“In New Zealand, when we think about replacing Trent Boult, we’ll have to dig very deep,” Smith said. “We don’t currently have a left-arm bowler of world-class ability in our ranks.”
Smith highlighted the difficulty of finding a bowler of Boult’s caliber, comparing it to the long wait for a replacement after Hadlee’s retirement. “It will take a long, long time to find someone who can do what Trent Boult has done.”
Reflecting on Boult’s career, Smith emphasized his consistent rhythm and technique. “Boult has a nice rhythm about what he does, similar to Richard Hadlee. His action has remained smooth and effective over the years. He’s not the fastest bowler but one of the most demanding.”
New Zealand concluded their T20 World Cup campaign with a final group match against Papua New Guinea on June 17.
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