Nobody Thought Trent Boult Is Going To Finish Up This Quickly – Scott Styris

Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris said Trent Boult’s decision to reduce his participation in international cricket has taken New Zealand aback.

On August 10, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced that Trent Boult has opted out of the central contract. The 33-year-old had requested the board to release him from the contract list in order to spend more time with his family and make himself available for overseas franchise T20 leagues.

However, this decision from the New Zealand pacer does not bring the curtains on his international career. He will get chances if available to play for the Black Caps, but one thing is that participation as the senior member of the team will decrease.

Nobody thought Trent Boult is going to finish up this quickly: Scott Styris

Boult is the second player after Mitchell McClenaghan to opt out of the annual contract list. The latter did it in 2017 and thereafter never played for the national team.

“Firstly, it has taken New Zealand by complete surprise, certainly the cricket viewing public. Nobody really thought that Trent Boult is going to finish up this quickly and this soon,” Styris said on Sports18.

“It is also a little unfair to say he is chasing money as such. It’s time now that he prioritises the format that he enjoys, a little bit like Ben Stokes. But it is also a bigger message that the schedule is broken,” he added.

Cricket cannot afford to lose the likes of Ben Stokes and Trent Boult: Scott Styris

England all-rounder Ben Stokes announced retirement from ODI cricket last month. These latest developments of Stokes and Boult again and again bring the question to the fore – ‘Is international cricket in danger?’

“I don’t think cricket can afford to lose the likes of Stokes and Trent Boult, two of the best cricketers in the world right now, away from the international game,” Styris said.

Boult was part of New Zealand’s World Test Championship title-winning team and also featured in the white-ball events, where Black Caps ended runners-up (2015 and 2019 World Cup finals, 2021 T20 World Cup final).

Also Read: Former Aussie Pacer Jason Gillespie Reacts After Trent Boult’s Release From New Zealand Contract