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Trent Boult, the skilled pacer from New Zealand, is harbouring a strong determination to achieve the highest honour in the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023, set to take place in India starting from October 5. This resolve has been amplified by the heart-wrenching experiences of the Blackcaps, who endured consecutive losses in the finals of the 2015 and 2019 editions of the tournament.
Boult, who voluntarily stepped away from his New Zealand central contract around a year ago, has returned to the forefront. His re-entry into the Kiwi squad for the forthcoming four-match ODI series against England marks his resurgence onto the international cricket scene. His last appearance for the Black Caps in an ODI was nearly a year ago in September 2022.
Hungry to serve the country in coming months
Boult has rejoined the national training camp at Bay Oval in New Zealand. In a conversation with reporters following his return, the 34-year-old expressed his eagerness to once again don the national colours and play for the country in the upcoming months.
“Yeah, definitely as hungry as ever to still represent the country, and hopefully do something special with the guys over the next couple of months. I can’t wait,” Boult was quoted as saying by ICC.
Boult unveils key focus after returning to the national team
For Boult, the aspiration extends beyond simply reaching the final stage; his goal is to shatter the “World Cup curse” that has haunted New Zealand, especially since their near miss in the 2019 World Cup final. Despite their valiant effort, the team fell agonizingly short of claiming the championship.
“I have always had this in the back of my mind to come back and work towards an ODI World Cup. There’s history involved there. The times we have had in previous campaigns have been very exciting. So just hungry to get involved, and hopefully play a big role. I’m just thinking about hopefully lifting something pretty shiny that we were pretty close to four years ago. That’s the biggest focus,” the Rotorua-born cricketer added.
Boult elaborated on his decision from a year ago when he chose to decline a central contract in order to effectively manage his workload.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to make just over a year ago to move away from the New Zealand cricket bubble in a way. I never wanted it to be about New Zealand or franchise cricket. I just respected the fact that my career is [only] so long, and just tried to make the most of my remaining years as a bowler,” Boult concluded.
New Zealand’s historical performance and future prospects in quadrennial event
Notably, New Zealand’s performance in the ODI World Cup has been remarkable, with them finishing as runners-up in the last two editions in 2019 and 2015. Their consistent performance and strong team dynamics have positioned them as one of the top contenders in international cricket tournaments.
In the upcoming global event, New Zealand is set to play in the opening match against the defending champions, England, on October 5 in Ahmedabad. The BlackCaps are also scheduled to face hosts India in Dharamsala on October 22, which is likely to be a thrilling encounter considering India’s passionate fan base and their dominance on home soil. Additionally, the kiwis will lock horns with their Trans-Tasman rivals, Australia, on October 28th at the same venue.
