AUS vs NZ | Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme doubtful for Australia series, says Gary Stead
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has expressed doubts over injured players Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme as they are in the race for fitness ahead of their series against Australia. Both Boult and de Grandhomme were left out of the squad in the drawn second Test against England.
With the Test series away to the Aussies starting in less than two weeks time, Stead is unsure if his bowling spearhead and all-rounder can recover completely from their muscle injuries. The duo had been left injured during their innings-win against England in the first Test at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
Stead, although unsure was quite optimistic about their chances to play in the series against Australia down under. Boult's influence on the Kiwi team is invaluable, with the left-arm pacer leading the attack for Williamson. Further, Boult has been New Zealand's most successful bowler with the pink ball, as they face the Aussie in a pink-ball game upfront.
"I don't know if I'm really confident, but I'm quietly optimistic that they are both tracking where we want them to be. The plan that we've got for both of them gives them both a chance to be right for the first Test but it's still just a little bit far out to know for sure," Stead told AFP.
Stead said that the two senior men will have until Friday to prove their fitness, with the team scheduled to depart for Australia the following day. The Kiwis will play three Tests in Australia, with the first one being a day-night encounter in Perth from December 12.
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