New Zealand optimistic on Boult and de Grandhomme’s fitness for Australia Tests

New Zealand are hopeful of Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme, attaining the desired fitness levels for the upcoming Test series versus Australia. There’s not much time for the duo as the opening Day-Night Test at the Perth Stadium is scheduled to get underway on December 12. Both of them got injured in the Kiwis’ Test against England at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.

Subsequently, they missed the second Test at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. In the meantime, head coach Gary Stead is pretty satisfied with the progress they have made. Though he is still a tad worried about de Grandhomme, he was over the moon with Boult’s progress.

“Both Colin and Trent are progressing well, which is encouraging for us. Colin could have kept bowling through the last Test so he’s probably just a little more advanced. But Trent actually rocked up really well today,” Stead was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo.

New Zealand likely not ruling out calling replacements

Boult and de Grandhomme’s fate now depend upon passing the fitness test in order to play the Perth Test. Both need to run in for spells of 10-12 overs in order to get eligible for selection. Stead also didn’t rule out the chance of calling upon replacements if they don’t get fit.

“Both have rolled their arm over at a very low level in the last two days. But both are going to have to prove their fitness a couple of days out from the first Test and bowl a decent spell of 10-12 overs at least over two or three spells,” the coach stated.

“I don’t know if I’m really confident, but I’m quietly optimistic they’re tracking where we want them to be. But it’s a long way to go if we know they’re not going to play, so it’s likely we’d look at replacements,” he added.

De Grandhomme suffered an abdominal strength while fielding in the second fielding innings of the Mount Maunganui Test. On the other hand, Boult experienced a pain on the right side of his ribs. The speedster went away after bowling only a solitary over on Day 5 of the first Test.