Boult: Time to make history

For many Kiwis, 1985/86 was the golden era cricket – names like Hadlee, Cairns and Wright were the names kids would rattle off in the school yards claiming they wanted to be them.

But fast forward 30 years and now its names like McCullum, and Bay of Plenty's own Kane Williamson and Trent Boult who youngsters want to emulate in the school yard.


Black Caps cricketers Kane Williams (left) and Trent Boult in action. Photo: File.

For Trent having the ability to move the cricket ball both ways at pace has meant he is a vital cog in the Black Caps armoury and now he wants to put that weapon to good use and hopefully create his own bit of history.

The 26-year-old has a world-class average of 27.12 from his 32 Tests, and barring injury will be a certainty for the three-Test series against Australia — he says it would be a career highlight to record a Test series win against the old foe.

The last, and only, time the team have won a test series across the ditch came in the season of 1985/86 when Sir Richard Hadlee famously ripped through the Aussies with his career-best bowling performance of 9/52 at The 'Gabba. Bowling figures no other Black Cap has managed to emulate.

Trent, who was born four years later in 1989, told blackcaps.co.nz he was well aware of the historic day in Brisbane, and knows the folklore that followed the series win.

'Thirty years is a long time and it is time to make some new history. Obviously that was before my time, but I have heard all of the stories and know the legendary story of Richard Hadlee being unplayable at The Gabba.

"That was some performance, and is still regarded as one of our finest test series wins. To be part of something like that would be really special.”

Rested from the tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe as a precaution following signs of stress to his back, Boult says he is feeling refreshed after a conditioning window in New Zealand.

'I can't remember the last time that I had three months off from cricket — it has been nice to get away from the game and get my body right. I am chomping at the bit to get back into it.”

The best part of being home was enjoying some golf and getting out for the occasional fishing day. His back, after the exceptional workload that started 2015, is feeling good, he has enjoyed the chance to get back into the gym — and also to mentally refresh.

He believes the test team will head across the Tasman full of confidence after going undefeated through their past seven test series, against top opposition all around the world.

'This test team has enjoyed a great 18 months or so together where we have played in conditions all around the world and enjoyed some success.

The list of teams the team has played both at home and abroad in the past seven series include England (away), Sri Lanka (home), Pakistan (away), West Indies (away), India (home), West Indies (home) and Bangladesh (away).

But Boult says this test series is the team's biggest challenge yet.

'Taking on our friendly neighbours across the ditch in their conditions… it doesn't get any better than that in terms of a challenge. The fact that it is a three-test series as part of the five for the summer is even better.

'We are well led by Brendon, and we have bought into an attacking brand of cricket that we enjoy playing. That experience breeds some confidence in the group, but we know that Australia will be a step up again and they will be looking to bounce back from the Ashes. It will be a great series.”

Boult says it is hard to know who will be playing for Australia yet and he will be watching their upcoming series with Bangladesh with some interest. But he says whoever they pick will be tough to beat.

'They have an incredible record at home and even though there will be some new faces, they will come into their set-up and expect to perform straight away.

'The depth of Australian cricket has always been their strength, so it is up to us to start well and put them under pressure.”

Boult knows it will be a different tour for more than one reason — most notably the historic third Test in Adelaide, which will be played as a day/night match with a pink ball for the first time.

'It is exciting, and it's going to be great to be part of history. There are a lot of people already talking about it and the interest is only going to grow as we get closer to Adelaide.”

He admits that the ‘Pink Ball Test' is heading into the unknown, and it is going to be a very different challenge for both sides.

'I have had two sessions with the pink ball, and it feels like a hockey ball or an indoor cricket ball coming out of the hand. I was able to get it to swing a bit, but I haven't bowled with it at night yet.”

He says the team is learning a lot at the moment and is sure education will continue with a warm-up game in Hamilton on October 7-9 and two warm-up games in Australia.

'Those games are crucial for our preparation as we see how the pink ball reacts in different conditions and we get used to bowling, batting and fielding with it. We need to embrace it, and be as prepared as we can be.”

Hopefully in many years' time, when New Zealand Cricket fans reflect on history being made in a 2015 Test series in Australia, the story includes a famous and long-awaited series win for the Black Caps.

Black Caps 2015/2016 schedule:

BLACKCAPS v Prime Minister's XI

Friday October 23, 2015 4pm (NZ Time)Manuka Oval, Canberra

Mens One-Day Match BLACKCAPS tour of Australia

BLACKCAPS v Cricket Australia XI

Saturday October 24, 2015 12.30pm (NZ Time)Manuka Oval, Canberra

Mens Multi-Day Match BLACKCAPS tour of Australia

BLACKCAPS v Cricket Australia XI

Thursday October 29, 2015 12.30pm (NZ Time)Blacktown International Sports Park, Sydney

First Class Match BLACKCAPS tour of Australia

BLACKCAPS v Australia

Thursday November 5, 2015 The Gabba, Brisbane

Test Match BLACKCAPS tour of Australia

BLACKCAPS v Australia

Friday November 13, 2015 The WACA, Perth

Test Match BLACKCAPS tour of Australia

BLACKCAPS v Cricket Australia XI

Saturday November 21, 2015 7pm (NZ Time)The WACA, Perth

First Class Match BLACKCAPS tour of Australia

BLACKCAPS v Australia

Friday November 27, 2015 Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Test Match BLACKCAPS tour of Australia

BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka

Thursday December 10, 2015 10.30amUniversity Oval, Dunedin

Test Match ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka

BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka

Friday December 18, 2015 10.30amSeddon Park, Hamilton

Test Match ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka

BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka

Saturday December 26, 2015 11amHagley Oval, Christchurch

ODI ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka

BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka

Monday December 28, 2015 11amHagley Oval, Christchurch

ODI ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka

BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka

Thursday, 31 December 2015 11:00amSaxton Oval, Nelson

ODI ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka

BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka

Saturday January 2, 2016 11amSaxton Oval, Nelson

ODI ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka

BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka

Tuesday January 5, 2016 11amBay Oval, Mt Maunganui

ODI ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka

BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka

Thursday January 7, 2016 3pmBay Oval, Mt Maunganui

International Twenty-20 ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka

BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka

Sunday January 10, 2016 3pmEden Park, Auckland

International Twenty-20 ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka

BLACKCAPS v Pakistan

Friday January 15, 2016 Eden Park, Auckland

International Twenty-20 ANZ International Series v Pakistan

BLACKCAPS v Pakistan

Sunday January 17, 2016 7pmSeddon Park, Hamilton

International Twenty-20 ANZ International Series v Pakistan

BLACKCAPS v Pakistan

Friday January 22, 2016 7pmWestpac Stadium, Wellington

International Twenty-20 ANZ International Series v Pakistan

BLACKCAPS v Pakistan

Monday January 25, 2016 11amBasin Reserve, Wellington

ODI ANZ International Series v Pakistan

BLACKCAPS v Pakistan

Thursday January 28, 2016 2pmMcLean Park, Napier

ODI ANZ International Series v Pakistan

BLACKCAPS v Pakistan

Sunday January 31, 2016 11amEden Park, Auckland

ODI ANZ International Series v Pakistan

BLACKCAPS v Australia

Wednesday February 3, 2016 2pmEden Park, Auckland

ODI ANZ International Series v Australia

BLACKCAPS v Australia

Saturday February 6, 2016 2pmWestpac Stadium, Wellington

ODI ANZ International Series v Australia

BLACKCAPS v Australia

Monday February 8, 2016 2pmSeddon Park, Hamilton

ODI ANZ International Series v Australia

BLACKCAPS v Australia

Friday February 12, 2016 10.30amBasin Reserve, Wellington

Test Match ANZ International Series v Australia

BLACKCAPS v Australia

Saturday February 20, 2016 10.30amHagley Oval, Christchurch

Test Match ANZ International Series v Australia

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2 comments

jmac

Posted on 03-10-2015 13:25 | By JohnMac

It is difficult to really fully appreciate just how good these guys are. They are up against tough opposition every time they play and they do achieve great results. Well done Black Caps and especially those from the BOP


Completly agreed.

Posted on 03-10-2015 17:39 | By keepitgreen

As bay of plenty locals we should be proud of what these two young players are achieving. Well done to the clubs and schools who helped develop them into world leading athletes.


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