NEW DELHI:
Trent Boult
has announced his retirement from international cricket after New Zealand's disappointing
T20 World Cup
campaign.
His 13-year stint in international cricket came to an end in a rather underwhelming setting of a T20 World Cup dead-rubber against Papua New Guinea in Trinidad on Monday.
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Boult expressed mixed emotions about his retirement, stating (as quoted by AFP), "It feels a little bit weird, a few emotions obviously the last couple of days."
While he acknowledged that the game against Papua New Guinea might have been his final appearance for New Zealand, he also left room for uncertainty, saying, "I haven't thought much further than this, I'm in no position to comment right now.
I enjoyed being out there one last time."
The 34-year-old has been infrequently selected for international duty since being released from his New Zealand central contract in August 2022, allowing him to play in more domestic T20 leagues abroad.
However, he did feature in New Zealand's 50-over World Cup campaign last year, where they reached the semi-finals before suffering a 70-run defeat by tournament hosts India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Boult's impressive career statistics include 317 wickets in 78 Tests, making him the fourth-highest wicket-taker for New Zealand. His longstanding new-ball partnership with
Tim Southee
(380 Test wickets) has been a cornerstone of New Zealand's bowling attack, and the two share a close friendship off the field.
Despite the disappointing campaign, Boult showcased his skills, taking two wickets for 14 runs as Papua New Guinea was skittled out for 78. His fellow quick,
Lockie Ferguson
, also had an impressive outing, finishing with remarkable figures of 3-0 from his maximum four overs.
Reflecting on his career, Boult expressed a sense of pride and sadness, saying, "Gutted to not go any further, but I'm very proud of what I've done with the Black Caps and sad it's my last day with New Zealand."
New Zealand's hopes of qualifying for the second-round Super Eights were dashed after defeats to Afghanistan and tournament co-hosts West Indies earlier in Group C. Papua New Guinea had already been eliminated before the match, rendering Monday's game irrelevant to Super 8s qualification.
New Zealand captain
Kane Williamson
paid tribute to Boult, describing him as a "great servant of the game" who was "consistent in all formats".
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