Cricket News: Trent Boult and Tim Southee: The New Zealand duo with the enviable records

Having played youth and domestic cricket together on their way to senior cricket, the two have been playing together for years. 

And the two are still a fine pair, as has been demonstrated by New Zealand’s two wins in the T20 World Cup 2022 thus far. 

Against Australia, both Tim Southee and Trent Boult were at their best, combining their natural strengths of swing bowling and the tricks they’ve picked up in T20 franchise leagues. 

Even in the dominant win over Sri Lanka, it might have been Glenn Phillips’ ton that stole the headlines, but one of the reasons Sri Lanka was dismissed for a paltry 102 was Trent Boult and Tim Southee. 

Trent Boult took career-best figures of 4-12, whereas Tim Southee had 1-12 in his four overs, showcasing their potent ability to win matches for the team. 

Indeed, despite their recent massive contributions to New Zealand cricket, they are underrated by many. 

This may be down to the fact that their most significant contributions have come in Test cricket, a format which, while still the pinnacle of cricket, and not the most popular format among the more casual cricket fans. 

It may also be down to the fact that, despite their massive contributions to the team, New Zealand has both overachieved and underachieved on the international stage. 

It is worth remembering that New Zealand was a World Cup finalist in 2015, 2019, and the 2021 T20 World Cup – besides also playing and winning the maiden final of the World Test Championship. 

Yet despite their overachieving, to make it to three ICC white-ball finals, they have yet to win one of those tournaments. 

That being said, the pace bowling duo still deserve their praises – especially as their days of being a full-time pair on the international stage are ending. 

This isn’t due to either of them retiring but Trent Boult’s decision to refuse a New Zealand central contract to prioritise playing in domestic franchise leagues. 

Trent Boult has stated his ambition to play in the 2023 ODI World Cup, and there is little doubt over the fact that he improves any side that he is a part of. 

But will the New Zealand selectors regularly bring him back into the fold if his replacement in the full-time squad performs well? That remains uncertain. 

Still, whatever the future holds for Trent Boult, it is safe to say that his duo with Tim Southee will be the benchmark in New Zealand cricket for years to come. 

They’ve taken 669 wickets in Test cricket together and played vital parts in New Zealand, defying the odds repeatedly to make it to the ICC finals. 

They remain underrated even now. But maybe not for long, especially given their time together is limited – and we don’t always know what we have till it’s gone.