Auckland 19th, August 19 : Former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Ian Smith believes that pace-bowling veteran Trent Boult’s recent announcement of releasing himself from the Black Caps’ contract signals the end of his Test career and warned that it will be a huge loss for the cricket of the country. Boult’s request to be released from his central contract, so that he could spend more time with his family and also be able to play in local leagues across the world, was approved by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).
The 65-year-old Smith is an experienced veteran of 63 Tests and 98 ODIs said that the pace bowling duo of Boult and Tim Southee is the “the most powerful combination” the nation has ever witnessed in Test cricket.
“I believe that this (release of central contract) could mean the conclusion of the Test player’s career.and I really believe so,” Smith said on the SENZ show The Run Home.”That’s sad because Southee/Boult was probably the best team we’ve experienced and I was playing alongside (Richard) Hadlee/(Ewen) Chatfield and Hadlee who knows what.
“There were some decent combinations back then, but I believe these two guys — Trent Boult and Tim Southee -have been the most successful combination we’ve ever had.Boult first made an appearance in 2011 has formed an explosive team with Southee to make him one of the most effective opening bowling duos with 541 wickets in their 65-Test run.
“Only three other pairs in the world have accomplished this feat: England’s James Anderson and Stuart Broad (973 wickets in 129 Tests), West Indies’ Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh (762 wickets in 95 matches) and Pakistan’s Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis (559 wickets in 61 Tests),” according to the website.
The duo ranks third and fourth on the list of New Zealand’s greatest wicket-takers — Southee with 347 and Boult with 317.
“It’ll (likely Boult’s absence of Boult) impact Tim Southee a lot because bowlers who play in pairs, they come to know and respect each other and understand and the bowler who is in the know knows what the other’s approach is, and he is supportive from his side and they’ve done well together, fantastic,” opined Smith.
“It will be an absolute hell of hole in New Zealand Cricket if Trent Boult is not able to play the brand new ball in the Test match for us, so it’s a concern however, that’s my guess.”
Boult and Southee are likely to be in the New Zealand squad for the T20 World Cup in October in Australia.
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