Boult to miss both England Tests, to play only WTC final vs India

London, June 1 (IANS): New Zealand pace bowler Trent Boult will arrive on Friday but will be available only for World Test Championship final against India from June 18. Left-armer Boult, who is already skipping the first Test against England that begins at Lord’s on Wednesday, will also miss second Test against Joe Roots team at Edgbaston from June 10.

“I don’t think you will see Trent [Boult] in the two Test matches here,” said NZ coach Gary Stead while speaking to media ahead of the first Test.

“He arrives on Friday and our planning and what we are looking at doing with Trent is having him ready for the World Test Championship final,” added Stead.

Boult, who represented Mumbai Indians in the suspended Indian Premier League flew straight to New Zealand from India to spend time with family and did not go to England like Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson and Mitchell Santner did.

The 31-year-old had to spend two weeks in isolation on return to New Zealand and managed to get out only on May 23. Since then he has been staying at home in Mount Maunganui, training at Bay Oval.

“He has been home and he has had a week of bowling over there, which has been great, after the fair amount of isolation time at the end of the IPL, but our view with Trent right now is it is unlikely that he will play the Test in Edgbaston, and he is more likely to be just available for the one-off Test,” said Stead.

Boult has played four Tests in England and taken 21 wickets with two five-wicket hauls. Overall, he has played 10 Tests against England and picked 48 wickets with four five-wicket hauls.

The Kiwis will play left-armer Neil Wagner alongside Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson in the two Tests against England.