After a stunning win over Uganda, New Zealand bowler Trent Boult has confirmed that the 2024 edition will be the last of his T20 World Cup career. The 34-year-old pacer has appeared in four T20 World Cups since 2014. He has picked 32 wickets in 17 matches he played with an economy of 6.07.
“Speaking on behalf of myself this will be my last T20 World Cup, so yeah, that’s all I have to say,” said Boult.
New Zealand has been knocked out from the T20 World Cup 2024 after defeats against Afghanistan and West Indies. After winning against Uganda, they have a last schedule against Papua New Guinea on June 17 at Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
“We’re devastated not to qualify,” Boult said. “We’ve been outplayed earlier in the tournament and yeah, we haven’t qualified for good reason so it’s unfortunate but that’s how T20 cricket goes.”
The left-arm pacer was released from his central contract two years ago and has made only a few appearances in international games. With the end of the T20 World Cup career, New Zealand will have to bring in a player to fill the bowling attack for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2026.
He spoke about his fellow pacer Tim Southee saying, “I look at it [partnership with Southee] with very fond memories,” Boult said.
“We bowled a lot of overs together. I know the partnership very well, and obviously a very good friend on and off the ground. So yeah, nice to wind back the clock a little bit and see a bit of swing bowling at the top. So yeah, like I said, some great memories, and hopefully a couple more still to come.”
After their defeat against West Indies, New Zealand Skipper Kane Williamson suggested that the New Zealand team is undergoing a transition, but will remain optimistic that some experienced players will play for an extended period.
“They’re still guys that will be here for some time. think if we just look at the two matches to start off… no doubt disappointing. You come to a world event, you want to start well and to be honest, we need to be better in these conditions specifically. We know that it’s going to be a real scrap and it’s not going to be easy,” concluded Kane Williamson.
