NZ vs SA: Trent Boult to miss second Test due to fitness issues

Left-arm pacer Trent Boult will not be the part of New Zealand squad in the second Test match to be played against South Africa at the Hagley Oval from February 25. Boult missed the series opener, with him and his wife welcoming their third child. In his absence, Matt Henry capped off a memorable Test with figures of 9/55 against the Proteas.

The 32-year old pacer was expected to mark his return in the second Test. However, New Zealand head coach Gary Stead confirmed that the hosts won’t take a risk playing Boult, who hasn’t had sufficient training time to bear the workload of a Test match.

Boult isn’t in a position to be available for second Test Match: Coach Gary Stead

“Trent Boult isn’t in a position to be available for this Test match with his loads and where he’s at, at the moment,” Stead said on Monday (February 21). “Since [he was on paternity leave] as well he’s missed out on a lot of opportunities to play cricket and bowl. We just felt the risk of him playing was far too great at the moment to do that to him,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Stead as saying.

With Boult missing from the action, pacer Matt Henry was included in Kiwi’s side. The right-arm pacer grabbed the opportunity with both hands and demolished Proteas batting order. Henry took seven wickets in the first inning and set the tone for  home side emphatic victory by an innings and 276 runs. This was their only fifth win against South Africa.

New Zealand have retained an unchanged 15-player squad for the second Test and the hosts will be looking to wrap up the series against a meek-looking Proteas side.