By Dhammika Ratnaweera
New Zealand paceman Trent Boult became the third New Zealand bowler to claim 250 test wickets. On the second day of the second test at P. Sara Oval stadium Boult reached this milestone with a double-wicket maiden that turned the game to New Zealanders favour. Sir Richard Hadley was the highest wicket-taker for Kiwis with 431 wickets from 81 matches while former leggie Daniel Vittori second-highest wicket-taking bowler for Kiwis with 361 wickets in 112 matches.
On Friday, Boult passed this landmark after taking the Anjelo Matthews wicket in the first session of the game. Same over he took Kusal Janith Perera’s wicket and Perera was back to the pavilion for a duck with facing only three deliveries. This milestone comes in a year in which Boult averages less than 22 in Tests, following two full calendar years in which he averaged 23.90 (2018) and 24.77 (2017).
New Zealand bowling coach Shane Jurgenson thinks the key to Boult’s consistency has been his fitness and his simple action. “I think he has a very efficient bowling action and it’s quite simple. In my view that always allows Boult to do what he does. New Zeland bowling coach said being accurate is really important in all parts of the game. Boult also got an advantage being left-handed paceman and that creates a variation for New Zealand bowling group.” said Jurgenson.
“He’s one of the best bowlers in the world and he’s proved that for a long time. He’s got that skill to expose any type of conditions that are available to him. I also think he can bowl across all different periods of the game. That’s really important. He’s one of the leaders of being able to do that – the ability to adjust to all periods.” added the Kiwi coach.
New Zealand bowling coach also said that he is happy that Boult is well supported by Tim Southee who too had got many positives as a threatening bowler with both of them work hard and got resilience. “He’s also got great passion and energy which he brings to our team. He’s our energiser bunny in the warm-ups. He loves his soccer. I think the skill and execution and the way he’s contributed to the team has been amazing. He’s a fantastic team man as well. And he does a lot of hard work off the field. He doesn’t stop working on his fitness or his resilience. Those factors have contributed to the success.” the coach added.
Southee already took 247 wickets and wanted to get thee more wickets to reach 250 milestones.
Boult the 30-year-old left-arm paceman so far took 251 wickets with best figures 6 for 30. He already took five wickets hauls in eight occasions while match bag of ten wickets in one time in his 62 test match carrier. Boult and Southee combination always very effective and both have the ability to swing the ball very well.
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