Trent Boult Makes Return To New Zealand T20I Squad After Over 15 Months

Trent Boult makes a comeback to the New Zealand T20I squad after an absence of more than a year, as the Blackcaps unveil the lineup for the upcoming series against Australia.

New Zealand star pacer Trent Boult has made a comeback to New Zealand's T20I squad after a hiatus of 15 months. The Black Caps have announced their squad for the upcoming three-match New Zealand vs Australia T20I series, set to commence on February 21 (Wednesday) at Wellington’s Sky Stadium. Boult, renowned for his left-arm pace, is set to participate in his first T20I since November 2022. Alongside him, players like Josh Clarkson and Rachin Ravindra have also been included in the 14-man squad.

Trent Boult's inclusion in the T20 squad for the second and third games, scheduled at Eden Park on February 23 & 25, comes as Tim Southee is strategically managing his workload between the Test series against South Africa and Australia. 

Released from his New Zealand central contract in August 2022, Trent Boult has actively participated in various domestic T20 leagues. Despite Boult's absence from the New Zealand side in the T20I circuit since their defeat at the hands of Pakistan at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, his return is poised to provide a significant boost to the team. The upcoming matches will see New Zealand without the presence of senior pros Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell, making Boult's return even more crucial for the team.

Josh Clarkson Makes The Cut For NZ's T20I Squad

In addition to Trent Boult, Rachin Ravindra and Josh Clarkson have secured spots in a formidable 14-member squad. The inclusion of Clarkson has been necessitated by Kane Williamson's paternity leave and Daryl Mitchell's foot injury. Clarkson, a dynamic all-rounder, is yet to make his T20I debut for the Blackcaps and his presence adds depth to the team in the shortest format of the game. Notably, Mitchell Santner is set to lead the Kiwis in the absence of Kane Williamson.

New Zealand squad for Australia T20Is: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (only for series opener).