Trent Boult
Trent Boult [Image-Ggetty]

New Zealand pacer Trent Boult is excited to take on India in the inaugural ICC WTC final, in Southampton starting from June 18, and is hoping for the Kiwis to create history.

However, what the left-arm seamer couldn’t grasp is mind around is the modified ranking system of the WTC table.

After the pandemic hit the world, ICC realized that all the matches scheduled in the WTC cycle could not be completed. So the governing body changed the standings to be determined from direct points to the percentage of points won out of the total number of points contested (PCT), in which New Zealand (70.0) just pipped Australia (69.2) to claim second place.

Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson and Virat Kohli (Image Credit: Twitter)

Nonetheless, the Kiwis are in their second straight ICC final – while they lost their previous one by a close – very close – margin, Trent Boult wishes to win this one finally.

“I’ve taken a while to understand the process with qualifying, how everything works with the points, still think no one knows how that actually works, but to get into that final the excitement is ramping up now,” Trent Boult told reporters in Mount Maunganui.

“The way the group has travelled and performed around New Zealand and the world, the boys are in a great place to hopefully create a bit of history,” he added.

Boys are very excited to get the Dukes ball in their hands: Trent Boult

Trent Boult opted to return to his home after the suspension of the IPL 2021. Therefore he will miss the first Test against England, starting June 2, and likely to miss the second as well, starting June 10, due to quarantine protocols in the UK.

He talks about that the Kiwi pacers are eager to bowl with the Dukes ball in England; before flying there, they have had nets bowling with the Dukes ball. He hasn’t had much experience with the Dukes – Kookaburra ball is used in New Zealand – and has played in four Tests in England picking up 21 wickets at 23.14.

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New Zealand
Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner [Image-Getty]

“I haven’t had too much experience with it [Dukes ball], played a handful of Tests over in England. It reacts a lot differently, then you have to weigh in all these different venues. I’m sure the boys are very excited to get it in their hands and see it move around, hopefully we can entertain you a little bit over the next wee while,” the seamer stated.

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