My last T20 World Cup, confirms Trent Boult after New Zealand’s group stage exit

New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult said the early exit in T20 World Cup 2024 is probably not the end of an era for the BlackCaps. However, the 34-year-old confirmed that the 2024 edition would be his last World Cup in the shortest format of the game. Boult spoke to the media after his match-winning performance with the ball against Uganda in a Group C match at Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on Saturday.

Trent Boult said there is still plenty of quality in the dressing room to make sure New Zealand return to their best in ICC tournaments. New Zealand exited an ICC men’s white-ball tournament without making the semi-final for the first time since 2014. Kane Williamson’s side were shown the door early after they lost to Afghanistan and West Indies in a tough group in the T20 World Cup.

“I obviously haven’t seen too much of them, but there’s been some great upsets in this tournament I see Nepal unfortunately missed out by one run It shows you the closeness of this format and the quality that’s in this in this World Cup So like I said, we’re devastated to not qualify. We’ve been outplayed earlier in the tournament and yeah, we haven’t qualified for good reason so it’s unfortunate but that’s how T20 cricket goes – speaking on behalf of myself this will be my last T20 World Cup. Yeah, that’s all I have to say,” Boult said.

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Boult gave up New Zealand’s central contract in 2022 and has been featuring only in major tournaments for the BlackCaps. Boult has been playing T20 cricket leagues across the globe and spending time with family after picking and choosing his international assignments. Boult’s future in the T20I side is thus uncertain.

“We come here to do a job and perform the way we know how to perform and play the game in the way that we want to play it. Unfortunately, we’ve been off the ball over the last couple of weeks and that’s what it takes to not qualify. So, it’s unfortunate but I think there’s still some tremendous talent inside that dressing room and coming through the ranks in New Zealand cricket. So, we’re a proud nation and I think it will continue to go that way,” Boult added.

VERY FOND MEMORIES WITH SOTUHEE: BOULT

New Zealand secured their first win of the tournament when they bowled Uganda out for 40 in Trinidad. New Zealand’s pace-bowling partners in crime Boult and Tim Southee shared five wickets between them as the associate nation slipped to a sub-50 total for the second time in the T20 World Cup.

Boult reflected on his partnership with Southee, 35, and said he was looking forward to creating more memories on the field with his pace-bowling partner.

“Yeah, I look at it with very fond memories. We bowled a lot of overs together. I know the partnership very well, and obviously a very good friend on and off the ground. So yeah, nice to wind back the clock a little bit and see a bit of swing bowling at the top. So yeah, like I said, some great memories, and hopefully a couple more still to come,” he added.

New Zealand will end their campaign after their final Group C game against Papua New Guinea on Monday, June 17.