Trent Boult Shines Despite New Zealand’s Loss to England: Gary Stead Hails His Return

In the third ODI match, New Zealand faced a defeat against England by a margin of 181 runs. However, Trent Boult’s remarkable return to international cricket emerged as a bright spot for the Blackcaps.

During the match, Boult showcased his prowess by taking 5 wickets for 51 runs in 9.1 overs, marking his sixth five-wicket haul in the format. This outstanding performance occurred while Ben Stokes unleashed a stunning 182-run innings, securing the highest individual score for England in men’s ODIs.

Boult, who had a commendable performance with figures of 3-37 in his return to international cricket, also surpassed the legendary Richard Hadlee as the New Zealand bowler with the most five-wicket hauls in ODIs. Head coach Gary Stead expressed his delight at Boult’s remarkable comeback.

Stead remarked, “I think he’s taken eight wickets in 17 overs. It’s great to have Trent back: he brings a lot of energy and skill to the team’s bowling attack. In the two games he’s played, he’s demonstrated his world-class ability to challenge England… (however) we haven’t been able to capitalize on those opportunities.”

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Stead also provided an update on left-arm spin all-rounder Mitchell Santner, confirming that Santner would be fit and available for the upcoming Men’s ODI World Cup despite missing the third ODI due to a knee injury sustained while fielding in the second game of the series in Southampton.

“Mitch had a comprehensive knee scan after he landed awkwardly while taking a catch in the last game at the Ageas Bowl. The results were positive, which is a positive development for us. He is experiencing some swelling around the knee, primarily attributed to a joint issue. Thankfully, it’s nothing more serious than that,” Stead added.

The white-ball series between the two teams has witnessed substantial victories and defeats. Stead expressed his hope for a closely contested finale match at Lord’s, scheduled for Friday, as a fitting conclusion to the series. “All seven games have been somewhat similar, haven’t they? We were just discussing how it would be nice to have a closely contested one so that we can see both teams facing pressure.”

Stead acknowledged the disappointment in New Zealand’s performance in the recent match but praised Ben Stokes for his incredible innings. He emphasized the need to manage players’ fitness and avoid significant injuries or risks due to the congested schedule leading up to the World Cup.