"This will be my last T20 World Cup": Trent Boult

Trent Boult (Pic: File Pic)

New Zealand lead pacer Trent Boult confirmed that T20 World Cup 2024 will be his last shortest-format global showpiece appearance for the "Black Caps".

"Speaking on behalf of myself, this will be my last T20 World Cup. That's all I have to say," Boult said at the press conference as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Trent Boult has a pretty good record in the T20 World Cups. Featuring 17 matches for New Zealand, the pacer has registered 32 wickets with an economy of 6.07. He also ranks second on the list of top[ 10 all-time wicket-takers of the tournament.

Boult, now 34, has only made intermittent appearances in New Zealand international teams since being released from his central contract nearly two years ago. If this is his final T20 World Cup, the world may have seen the last of him in ODI World Cups as well; the next T20 World Cup is slated for 2026, but the next ODI World Cup is only scheduled for the following year.

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Trent Boult made his debut in 2011 and since then he has been an integral part of the New Zealand cricket team. He has made his appearance in many finals across all three formats. In addition, the left-arm pacer has competed in four T20 World Cups since 2014.

Boult's future with New Zealand is uncertain, as he opted out of a central contract in 2022, preferring to play T20 franchise cricket across the world.

New Zealand failed to make it to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024, but Boult still has one match left against Papua New Guinea.

The confirmation that Boult will not play in another T20 World Cup highlights the future of New Zealand's ageing lineup. Only three players on this squad will be under the age of 30 when the club returns home. Only star batters Rachin Ravindra (24), Finn Allen (25) and all-rounder Glenn Phillips (27)

Boult and Tim Southee, the star pacer duo, have played influential roles in many campaigns for Blackcaps.

After taking two wickets in four overs against Uganda, Trent Boult felt there would be limited opportunities for the two to play together in the future.

"I look at the partnership with Tim Southee with very fond memories. We bowled a lot of overs together. I know the partnership very well, and obviously he's a very good friend on and off the ground. It was nice to wind back the clock a little bit and see a bit of swing bowling at the top. Some great memories, and hopefully a couple more still to come," he said.

(With ANI Inputs)