Ace New Zealand pacer Trent Boult is available to play the second Test match against England at Edgbaston, starting June 10, due to the updated quarantine protocols.
After the postponement of IPL 2021, most of the New Zealand players went to the Maldives. However, pacer Trent Boult went back to New Zealand to spend some time with his family and will arrive in the UK on Friday.
It was earlier reported that the pacer will miss the Test series against England as team management would want to keep him fresh from the final of the ICC World Test Championship.
However, change in isolation regulations has prompted the management to consider Trent Boult for the selection of the second Test match against England.
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"There's a chance, there are a few things that have changed. The British government has relaxed their quarantine stipulations so Trent is out of isolation three or four days earlier than expected,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead told ESPNCricinfo.
Gary Stead remarked that earlier they planned that they would play Trent Boult in the final of WTC but relaxation in the isolation period has made him available for the second Test against England.
He added that team management will make sure that the left-arm pacer stays fit for the ICC event.
"The original plan we had in place with all the information we had at the time was we weren't going to play him in the second Test, but coming out of that isolation probably three days earlier than what we originally anticipated does put a slightly different spin on it.
“So we'll weigh up the pros and cons and work out with Trent what we think is the best course forward to make sure he is fit and raring to go for that final," he said.
Gary Stead further said that Trent Boult is keener to play but management will make a call on him later in the week as he arrived before 48 hours only.
"Trent is keener than he was a week ago and that's because he's over here now, he's part of the environment. Probably right now it's a bit early to make that call, he's only been here 48 hours and probably still suffering a little bit of jet lag,” he said.
The first Test match between England and New Zealand at Lords ended in a draw.
(ESPNCricinfo/ ANI inputs)
