At a glance
England’s last tour in March 2018, Boult took nine for the victory at Eden Park and ended the two tests with 15 in all.
The now-retired Alastair Cook fell victim to Boult and his outswinger nine times at test level, comfortably his mostdismissed rival.
Boult notes there’s some new faces in the top six: Rory Burns, likely debutant Dom Sibley and Ollie Pope, and predicts a good pitch on a fresh block but potentially some hard toil for the bowlers if the sea breeze blows.
‘‘Being so close to the water, generally the wind is always getting up. I know from experience it swings more when it’s not as windy. Hopefully it stays down and we get that ball moving around because we
Name: Trent Boult
Age: 30
Test career: 63 tests, 254 wickets at
27.35, 8x5 wicket bags
Best figures: 6-30 v Sri Lanka at Christchurch, December 2018
Against England: 9 tests, 47 wickets at
23.02, 4x5 wicket bags
Best figures: 6-32 v England at Auckland, March 2018
Batsmen dismissed most often: Alastair Cook (England) 9 times, Joe Root (England) 5, Stuart Broad (England) 5, Kieran Powell (West Indies) 5. know how successful that is for us.
‘‘I’m just expecting a good wicket. Everyone wants it to be a good game and go the distance, or as long as possible.’’
Boult turned 30 a week after that agonising defeat to England in the World Cup final in July, and eyes his 64th test this week.
He and his mate Tim Southee both joined Sir Richard Hadlee and Daniel Vettori in New Zealand’s exclusive 250-wicket club in Sri Lanka in August. With five tests in a row now against England and Australia, then two more at home against India in February, Boult will rocket towards 300 in a hurry.
It all starts here, when test cricket comes to Boult’s backyard.