It's going to be a big positive to get back in the saddle and crack on with some Test cricket, reckons Trent Boult
Trent Boult has stated that he is looking forward to the much-needed break from white-ball cricket and playing with a different squad as the team prepares for the tour of Sri Lanka. He also talked about the significance of playing in a Boxing Day Test match and the experience of playing in Asia.
New Zealand players have had a hard time dealing with the heartbreak after a second consecutive World Cup defeat, as is only natural. However, the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka involving two Tests and three T20Is will give them a break from the format. The tour will also mark the beginning of the World Test Championships for the Black Caps, allowing them to focus their minds on the next goal they’d like to achieve.
"If we were getting back into one-day cricket it might drive a few of us mad after the amount we've played over the last little while. I think it's going to be a big positive to get back in the saddle and crack on with some Test cricket. It's a slightly different squad so think it will be good for everyone," Trent Boult said to ESPNCricinfo.
As disappointing as the defeat at Lord’s a little more than a fortnight ago must have been, the players have received overwhelming support from their countrymen. The world has hailed them as the true champions, acknowledging how fine the margins were to which they lost.
"A lot of people are talking about some positive stuff about the game back and there's a lot of pride in the side so it's just great for a game in a small country like this," Boult stated.
The Kiwis are not scheduled to play any ODI until February next year, with a lot of red-ball cricket lined up over the next few months. After the Sri Lanka tour, they’ll be welcoming England home before playing the traditional year ending test series against neighbours Australia, including the iconic Boxing Day test match. It will be followed by a Test series against India.
"It's definitely exciting for us, there's a big summer schedule coming up, against some quality opposition and I know the guys are looking forward to it. For me, growing up as a kid, to potentially play a Boxing Day Test in Australia has always been a massive motivator so hopefully everything goes well and I can get on that stage,” revealed Boult.
The Black Caps is currently ranked second in Tests and will be looking to win another series in the subcontinent having triumphed against Pakistan in their last series in Asia.
"They were pretty tough conditions in the UAE, but the way the guys adapted to what was in front of them, finding ways to be aggressive and take wickets, was one of the best things we took out of that tour so hopefully we can put our best foot forward in Sri Lanka and come out the right side," Boult concluded.