Trent Boult is likely to miss the second Test of New Zealand’s series against England after leaving the field due to pain on the right-hand side of his ribs on the fifth day of the first Test. He bowled six overs out of which four were maidens and gave away just six runs. He didn’t get any wickets. In the first innings, he bowled 31 overs and got a wicket.
Neil Wanger and Mitchell Santner guided New Zealand to an innings and 65 runs victory over England in the first Test. England resumed their innings on 55 to 3 on the last day of the first Test. Joe Denly and skipper Joe Root added 14 runs for the fourth wicket.
Boult, who bowled one over on the final day before going off, will undergo an MRI scan tomorrow to determine the extent of the injury. The 30-year-old, however, did not return to the field at Bay Oval in Mt. Maunganui and the team said on Twitter that he would take not take part in the match further will undergo an MRI scan on Tuesday.
The second Test at Hamilton starts on Friday, and with New Zealand starting a three-match series in Australia soon after that series, it seems unlikely he will be risked. Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry are the other seam-bowling options in the 15-man squad.
England was reduced to 121-5 in their second innings about 30 minutes after lunch when Ben Stokes played on for 28, leaving the tourists with a 141-run deficit and a prospect of facing an innings defeat unless they can bat for the rest of the day. Boult has missed only three Tests since 2016, and just six of New Zealand’s 70 Tests since his debut.
