New Zealand Cricket said on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with pacer Trent Boult to release him from his central contract. This will allow Boult to spend additional time with his family, in addition to making him open for participation in domestic leagues.
New Zealand Cricket said on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with pacer Trent Boult to release him from his central contract. This will allow Boult to spend additional time with his family, in addition to making him open for participation in domestic leagues. After multiple discussions with NZC, the quick bowler, who is now 33 years old, had formally asked his release. On Wednesday, the board of directors unanimously decided that they were satisfied with the arrangements.
According to a press release distributed by the New Zealand Cricket Board (NZC), “The move means Boult, who has taken 317 Test wickets, 169 at ODI level, and 62 in T20I cricket, will have a significantly reduced role with the BLACKCAPS during his final years in the game, while still being eligible for selection if and when available.”
The pace bowler acknowledged that it was a challenging choice to make, as well as the fact that he is aware of the fact that his career would be cut short in a relatively short amount of time.
“This was an extremely challenging decision for me to make, and I’d like to express my gratitude to NZC for all of the help they’ve given me in getting to this point. My boyhood desire was to be able to play cricket for my nation, and I’m extremely happy of all I’ve been able to do with the BLACKCAPS over the past 12 years, as well as my childhood dream coming true “said Boult.
“In the end, this choice will affect my family—specifically, my wife Gert and our three young sons. My family has always been the single most important factor in keeping me motivated, and I have no problem prioritising our time with them while also getting ourselves ready for life after cricket “he added.
He acknowledged that he was aware that the change would reduce the likelihood of his being selected to play for the BlackCaps.
“I still have a strong desire to play for my country, and I believe that I am capable of performing to a high standard at the international level. Having said that, I acknowledge that the fact that I do not have a national contract will reduce the likelihood of my being chosen. Having said that, I am aware that my career will only go so long since I am a fast bowler, and I believe that the time has come for me to transition into this next phase “said Boult.
David White, the chief executive officer of the New Zealand Cricket, stated that during negotiations, the left-armer made it plain that his appetite for touring had lessened, and that he desired to spend more time with his family.
“We respect Trent’s stance on the issue. He has been entirely honest and up-front with us about his explanation, and while we are unhappy to be losing him as a fully-contracted player, he leaves with our best wishes and our sincere appreciation. He has been completely honest and up-front with us about his reasoning “said White.
“Since making his Test debut in the latter half of 2011, Trent has been extremely helpful to the Black Caps, and he is now widely regarded as one of the most talented cricketers in the world across all formats. We’re very proud of what he’s achieved,” he added.
White went on to say that he was certain that Boult knew what the decision meant for him in terms of his future playing for his country’s national team.
“We’ve had a few conversations, and I know Trent understands that, in terms of selection, NZC will continue to make a priority of those players with either central or domestic contracts,” he said. “We’ve also had a few conversations about the fact that, in terms of selection, NZC will continue to make a priority of those players
