NZ vs WI 2017: Trent Boult Puts Forward his Views on Future of Test Cricket
Published - 10 Dec 2017, 05:17 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:55 PM
New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult feels the pitches around the world, and the match balls should change rather than the longest format of the game getting cut down to four days.
The left-arm pacer feels that other thing should be looked at to create a more even contest rather than cutting the five-day match to four days.
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“I love Test cricket, so I’d love to see it stay as it always has. In terms of shortening it to let it become more aggressive, I don’t think there’s any need. There’s other formats for that sort of thing. You want to have an even competition or contest between bat and ball.”
“There’s some good wickets going around at the moment, and the balls aren’t moving, so that’s what I’d love to see [a contest] – I wouldn’t want it any shorter to encourage aggression,” said Boult.
Pitches around the world have become too much batting friendly, and the pitch for the 2nd Test between New Zealand and Windies at the Seddon Park is no different.
“We definitely had to work for the wickets – there wasn’t too much swing. “I can’t talk on behalf of their batsmen, but I can probably tell you for free that they’re not too happy with being eight down,” he said.
“Any batsmen want to be aggressive, not just the West Indians. Especially if you put four or five [fielders] behind the stumps, trying to pitch it short. There’s two ways to play it – either duck and get out of the way of it or take it on.”
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It was exactly what Boult did when he came out to bat earlier in the day when he scored an entertaining 37 off 27 deliveries which were studded with five fours and a couple of sixes.
“Believe it or not, I take a lot of pride in my batting,” said Boult, who in a 61-run last-wicket stand Tim Southee proved great nuisance value once more to the tourists.
“Any contribution from not just myself but the lower order is very pivotal I guess. The first innings is one where we want to go big … a combination of runs as well as keeping their bowlers out there,” Boult said.
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