Trent Boult: The Swing King of New Zealand Cricket – Career, Team, and 5 Most Shocking Moments
**Let's Begin**
Trent Boult is one of the most destructive fast bowlers in modern cricket, famed for his deadly swing, precise accuracy, and ability to shred batting line-ups. A significant member for the New Zealand national cricket team (the **Black Caps**), Boult has been essential in their growth as a top-tier cricketing country.
In this blog article, we’ll explore: - Trent Boult’s career and his position in the New Zealand cricket team - The organization of the Black Caps roster (how many players are there?)
- **5 most memorable and surprising moments** from Boult’s career - His effect on international and franchise cricket
By the end, you’ll understand why Boult is considered one of the finest left-arm pacers of all time.
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## **Trent Boult’s Cricket Career & New Zealand’s Squad**
### **Early Career and Rise to Stardom** Born on **July 22, 1989**, in Rotorua, New Zealand, Trent Boult made his international debut in **2011**. His ability to swing the ball both ways at great speed immediately made him a nightmare for batters.
### **Teams He Represents** - **New Zealand (Black Caps)** – Primary national team - **Mumbai Indians (MI)** – IPL franchise - **Rajasthan Royals (RR)** – IPL franchise - **Northern Districts** - Domestic team in New Zealand
### **How Many Players Are on the New Zealand Cricket Team?**
The New Zealand men’s cricket team normally has a **15-player squad** for important competitions like the **World Cup** and **T20 World Cup**. However, the larger contractual players' roster contains roughly **20-25 players** at any given moment.
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## **5 Most Memorable & Shocking Moments in Trent Boult’s Career**
### **1. 2019 World Cup: The Unplayable Yorker to Virat Kohli** **Match:** New Zealand versus India, Semi-Final (Manchester, July 2019)
**Why It Was Shocking:** Boult delivered a **perfect in-swinging yorker** to remove Indian captain **Virat Kohli** for only **1 run**. This set the tone for New Zealand’s historic triumph, knocking out one of the tournament favorites.
**Impact:**
- India slumped to **18/3** in the chase.
- New Zealand reached the **2019 World Cup Final**, which ended in a sad stalemate (lost on boundary count).
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### **2. The 2021 World Test Championship (WTC) Final: Dismissing India’s Top Order** **Match:** New Zealand against India, WTC Final (Southampton, June 2021)
**Why It Was Memorable: ** Boult’s **3/39** in the second innings decimated India’s batting, enabling New Zealand win their **first-ever ICC trophy**.
**Key Moments:** - Removed **Rohit Sharma** and **Virat Kohli** cheaply.
- Played an important part in reducing India to **170**, culminating to an 8-wicket victory.
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### **3. The 2015 World Cup: Hat-Trick Against Australia (Almost!) ** **Match:** New Zealand versus Australia, Group Stage (Auckland, February 2015)
**Why It Was Shocking:** Boult got **5/27**, including **three wickets in four balls**, just missing a hat-trick.
**What Happened:** - Dismissed **Brad Haddin**, **Glenn Maxwell**, and **Mitchell Starc** in fast succession.
- New Zealand triumphed by **1 wicket** in a thriller.
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### **4. The 2022 IPL: The Unbelievable Catch to remove Kieron Pollard** **Match:** Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians (IPL 2022) **Why It Was Jaw-Dropping:** Boult took a **one-handed stunner** at the boundary to remove **Kieron Pollard**, one of the most dangerous T20 finishers.
**Impact:** - The catch went viral as one of the **best in IPL history**.
- RR won the match, with Boult contributing with both bat and ball.
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### **5. The 2023 ODI World Cup: Boult’s Emotional Last Dance? ** **Match:** New Zealand against Various Teams (India, 2023)
**Why It Was Emotional:** Rumors claimed this may be Boult’s **last World Cup** before retiring from ODIs.
**Key Performances:** - **3/37 versus England** in the tournament opener.
- **2/48 versus India** in the semi-final, where NZ barely lost.
Fans pondered if this was his **farewell to ODI cricket**, making it a poignant occasion.
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## **Conclusion: Why Trent Boult is a New Zealand Legend**
Trent Boult’s career has been marked with **match-winning periods, amazing catches, and unforgettable moments**. Whether swinging the ball in Tests, throwing yorkers in T20s, or making gravity-defying catches, Boult has left a **indelible mark** on cricket.
With his future still developing (perhaps in **T20 leagues**), one thing is certain: **Trent Boult will always be recognized as one of New Zealand’s finest fast bowlers. **
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