BLACKCAPS pace bowler Trent Boult feels like it is time to rewrite history.
The 26-year-old has a world-class average of 27.12 from his 32 Tests, and is one of the side’s leading strike weapons as the team prepares for the three-Test series against Australia — but says it would be a career highlight to record a Test series win against the old foe.
The last, and only, time the BLACKCAPS have won a Test series across the ditch came in the season of 1985/86 when [now Sir] Richard Hadlee famously ripped through the Aussies with his career-best bowling performance of 9/52 at The ’Gabba.
Hadlee's 9/52 in one innings is to this day the Test best by any BLACKCAP
Boult, who was born four years later in 1989, is well aware of that historic day in Brisbane, and is very familiar with the folklore that followed the series win.
“Thirty years is a long time and it is time to make some new history. Obviously that was before my time, but I have heard all of the stories and know the legendary story of Richard Hadlee being unplayable at The ’Gabba.
"That was some performance, and is still regarded as one of our finest Test series wins. To be part of something like that would be really special.”
Rested from the tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe as a precaution following signs of stress to his back, Boult says he is feeling refreshed after a conditioning window in New Zealand.
“I can’t remember the last time that I had three months off from cricket — it has been nice to get away from the game and get my body right. I am chomping at the bit to get back into it.”
The best part of being home was enjoying some golf and getting out for the occasional fishing day. His back, after the exceptional workload that started 2015, is feeling good, he has enjoyed the chance to get back into the gym — and also to mentally refresh.
He believes that the BLACKCAPS Test team will head across the Tasman full of confidence after going undefeated through their past seven Test series, against top opposition all around the world.
“This Test team has enjoyed a great 18 months or so together where we have played in conditions all around the world and enjoyed some success.
The list of teams the BLACKCAPS has played both at home and abroad in the past seven series include England (away), Sri Lanka (home), Pakistan (away), West Indies (away), India (home), West Indies (home) and Bangladesh (away).
But Boult says this Test series is the team’s biggest challenge yet.
“Taking on our friendly neighbours across the ditch in their conditions… it doesn’t get any better than that in terms of a challenge. The fact that it is a three-Test series as part of the five for the summer is even better.
“We are well led by Brendon, and we have bought into an attacking brand of cricket that we enjoy playing. That experience breeds some confidence in the group, but we know that Australia will be a step up again and they will be looking to bounce back from the Ashes. It will be a great series!”
Boult says it is hard to know who will be playing for Australia yet and he will be watching their upcoming series with Bangladesh with some interest. But he says whoever they pick will be tough to beat.
“They have an incredible record at home and even though there will be some new faces, they will come into their set-up and expect to perform straight away.
“The depth of Australian cricket has always been their strength, so it is up to us to start well and put them under pressure.”
Boult knows that it will be a different tour for more than one reason — most notably the historic third Test in Adelaide, which will be played as a day/night match with a pink ball for the first time.
“It is exciting, and it’s going to be great to be part of history. There are a lot of people already talking about it and the interest is only going to grow as we get closer to Adelaide.”
He admits that the ‘Pink Ball Test’ is heading into the unknown, and it is going to be a very different challenge for both sides.
“I have had two sessions with the pink ball, and it feels like a hockey ball or an indoor cricket ball coming out of the hand. I was able to get it to swing a bit, but I haven’t bowled with it at night yet.”
He said the BLACKCAPS are learning a lot at the moment and is sure that education will continue with a warm-up game in Hamilton (October 7-9) and two warm-up games in Australia.
“Those games are crucial for our preparation as we see how the pink ball reacts in different conditions and we get used to bowling, batting and fielding with it. We need to embrace it, and be as prepared as we can be.”
Hopefully in many years’ time, when New Zealand Cricket fans reflect on history being made in a 2015 Test series in Australia, that story includes a famous and long-awaited series win for the BLACKCAPS.
