World Cup 2019: Australia rope-in Nick Winter at nets with a plan to nullify Kiwis’ spearhead Trent Boult

They might have been the only team to have qualified for the semi-finals of the ICC World Cup 2019 so far. But defending champions Australia are in no mood to let go the momentum they have in the tournament. On Saturday, the Kangaroos will take on their Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand at the iconic Lord’s in a replay of 2015 final. For the Black Caps, who lost their first match of the tournament against Pakistan a couple of days ago, it is a big game for they would like to win it to cement their semi-final booking and not leave it to the last match against England on July 3.

Australia, who have lost only one game in the tournament which was against India, was taking special care of their preparation before Saturday’s game. On Thursday, left-arm swing bowler Nick Winter was seen bowling at the Australian bowlers at the nets as practice ahead of the battle with the likes of Trent Boult. The 26-year-old player from South Australia who has 59 wickets from 14 first-class games, bowled extensively to the Aussie batsmen.

A familiar face for the Aussie players made a surprise appearance at training at Lord’s on Thursday #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/3AloeoWtcz

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 28, 2019

“There were a couple of jokes about me coming into be Trent Boult,” Winter was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “But I think he’s got me well-and-truly covered.”

“I was watching a little bit of him (in the World Cup) and he wasn’t swinging the ball as much as I thought he would, so hopefully he doesn’t catch our boys out. They played me pretty well so I reckon they’re in pretty good hands.”
Winter is currently playing for Brentwood Cricket Club in Essex.

“It is nice to have Nick down, he’s over here playing some grade cricket and dominating. I think he’s taken four eight-wicket hauls in a row. He’s bowling really well and obviously we’ve got New Zealand and Trent Boult on Saturday so it’s nice to have a left-arm quick just to get a feel for the left arm,” Australia wicket-keeper Alex Carey said.

Boult has 9 wickets in this edition so far

Boult, who was the joint leading wicket-taker along with Australia’s left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc in the 2015 World Cup with 22 scalps, hasn’t been as successful this time. The left-arm bowler has only nine wickets in his kitty in World Cup 2019 while Starc has already grabbed 19 and leading the table. But that hasn’t reduced Boult’s importance as Australia coach Justin Langer called him one of the Kiwis’ main threats.