'Unfair to say he's chasing money' - Scott Styris on Trent Boult's decision to opt out of NZC contract

Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris has said that he is shocked with Trent Boult‘s decision of opting to from central contract with the New Zealand Cricket Board. Boult made the decision to spend time with his family and to make sure that he is available for franchise cricket.

He might still make it to the big international tournaments, however, NZC ha made it clear that the centrally contracted players would be given the preference in national selection. Boult has been a match-winner for New Zealand in all three formats since 2011 and is among the best pacers in the world at the moment, with more than 500 international wickets to his name.

Nobody thought Trent Boult is going to finish up this quickly: Scott Styris

Styris said that he never saw Boult’s decision coming. However, the former player said that money is not the reason behind Boult’s decision, and added that a player should be allowed to make his choices.

“Firstly, it has taken New Zealand by complete surprise, certainly the cricket viewing public. Nobody really thought that Trent Boult was going to finish up this quickly and this soon. It is also a little unfair to say he is chasing money as such. It’s time now that he prioritises the format that he enjoys, a little bit like Ben Stokes. But it is also a bigger message that the schedule is broken,” Styris told Sports18.

He went on to speak about the sport losing two brilliant cricketers in Stokes and Boult and highlighted the lower income for the New Zealand players when compared to countries like Australia, England and India.

“I don’t think cricket can afford to lose the likes of Stokes and Trent Boult, two of the best cricketers in the world right now, away from the international game. I think it depends where you come from. New Zealand players don’t get the same levels of money that some of the big Australia, England and Indian players get. This is the players’ job; people have to remember that,” he added.