The chances of key New Zealand paceman Trent Boult overcoming a back injury and playing in the historic day-night Test have improved after he came through training without problems, team coach Mike Hesson said Wednesday.
Boult has been troubled by an irritated disc and was in doubt for Friday's third and final Test against Australia in Adelaide. The left-armer showed few signs of discomfort while bowling eight overs in the nets at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, five of them at 'full intensity', according to Hesson.
Final call on Boult to be made on Thursday
Hesson and captain Brendon McCullum will make a final call on Thursday on whether Boult will take his place in the Black Caps team for the world's first day-night Test. Provided there are no setbacks and the swing specialist pulls up well, he is likely to take part. "We just have to see how he scrubs up tomorrow," Hesson told reporters. "He doesn't give too much away but he got through it and he was fine. He got better as the day went on. If he backs up tomorrow he'll be good to go. We're relatively confident."
The Kiwis are keen to have Boult bowling with the pink ball under floodlights following his form at this year's World Cup. Boult claimed 22 wickets with the white ball in the ODI tournament, topping the wicket-taking list alongside Australia's Mitchell Starc.
"He's pretty keen," Hesson said. "We'll give him every chance. When he's on song he is a big player for us, so we'll give him every opportunity. But we're also not going to push him if there's a risk."
Left-armer Neil Wagner is expected to be called into the team if Boult is ruled out. Hesson said Wagner and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner would come under consideration regardless. "Over the five days the pitch will deteriorate at a slightly different rate than normal, so we need to acknowledge that and see whether two spinners is an option," he said.
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