We’ve been hearing about a lot of sudden retirements and adjustments to player routines, because of the heavy workloads cricketers are facing. T20, ODI, Tests, and also franchise leagues across the world mean the entire annual calendar is packed. It wasn’t too long ago that one of the world’s best all-rounders Ben Stokes stepped away from the ODI format of the game.
Today we’re not here with news of a retirement but that of leading New Zealand pacer Trent Boult giving up his national contract. The 33-year old left-arm pacer has been instrumental in all of their success across formats and this has come as a complete shock to the cricketing world. So we ask the question, WHY?!
Trent Boult gives away national contract
With 317 Test wickets, 169 ODI wickets and 62 T20I wickets, Boult has decided to make this decision of exiting his central contract. The World Test Championship (WCC) winner and multiple World Cups finalist, Boult gave back his central contract and after several rounds of discussion, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) decided to accept the same.
It doesn’t directly mean that Boult will not play for New Zealand at the highest level ever again but it means that his chances of doing so will be severely reduced, as NZC will prefer the contracted players instead. With the T20 World Cup set to be played later this year in Australia, it’ll be interesting to see whether Boult will be considered for that major global event.
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Boult has been a vital part of past World Cup campaigns but with younger bowlers like Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner, Matt Henry, Scott Kuggeleijn, Kyle Jamieson, and others fit and fine, there are many replacements one can think of. Boult for now will complete the 2022 New Zealand tour of West Indies before releasing his central contract.
“This has been a really tough decision for me and I’d like to thank NZC for their support in getting to this point. Playing cricket for my country was a childhood dream and I’m so proud of everything I’ve been able to achieve with the Blackcaps over the past 12 years. Ultimately this decision is about my wife Gert and our three young boys. The family has always been the biggest motivator for me and I feel comfortable with putting it first and preparing ourselves for life after cricket,” he said after making this decision.
NEWS | NZC has agreed to release Trent Boult from his central contract so that he can spend more time with his family, while also making himself available for domestic leagues. Boult will complete the tour of the West Indies as scheduled.
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— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) August 9, 2022
Boult will be available for domestic leagues going forward and NZC chief executive officer David White commented on this development. “We respect Trent’s position. He’s been completely honest and up-front with us about his reasoning and, while we’re sad to be losing him as a fully-contracted player, he leaves with our best wishes and our sincere thanks.”
“Trent’s made a massive contribution to the BLACKCAPS since his Test debut in late 2011 and is now considered one of the best multi-format cricketers in the world. We’re very proud of what he’s achieved,” he added. Boult mentioned how this was a very tough decision to make, but he’s decided to do it, and spend more time with his family.
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