Melbourne: New Zealand pace spearhead Trent Boult says he is “ticking all the right boxes” in his rehab as he looks to return for the Boxing Day Test against Australia.
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Boult was ruled out of the opener of the three-match series at Perth Stadium with a rib injury as injury-hit New Zealand suffered a 296-run thrashing in the pink-ball Test.
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The left-arm quick got through a nets session unscathed on a scorching hot day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Wednesday in a boost to Kane Williamson’s team.
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“[I’m] feeling pretty good. Probably a little bit frustrated to be on the sidelines watching the games go by,” the 30-year-old said.
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“I feel like I’ve been rehabbing well. The ball’s coming out alright, I’m hoping to be pushing for Boxing Day and getting back out there.
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“The side has been the issue. It’s about rehabbing that, letting it rest and cool down.
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“From there it’s about being confident with the overs under my belt and having enough behind me. I feel like I’m in that place and ticking all the right boxes so far.” Boult said he would look to continue his recovery in a two-day game against a Victoria state XI starting on Friday as he works toward what would be his first Test at the MCG, which traditionally draws a huge crowd on Boxing Day.
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“I appreciate that stage for what it is,” said Boult, who played in front of 93,000 spectators at the MCG in the 2015 World Cup final defeat by Australia.
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“Test cricket is my favourite format, this is the stage a lot of people dream of being on,” Boult said.
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“To get this opportunity in my career is definitely something I’m looking forward to.”
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Boult bowled in the MCG nets on Wednesday to out-of-form opener Jeet Raval and reserve wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Blundell.
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New Zealand media pundits have urged selectors to pick two-Test Blundell in place of left-hander Raval, who has managed a top score of 19 in his past five innings.
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The third and final Test of the series starts in Sydney on January 3.
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