ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2022

October 25, 2022

Trent Boult

Melbourne Cricket Ground

New Zealand

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. Trent, you're playing at the MCG but you're not playing Australia; I know you're going to be calling it home in a few weeks with the stars. Is it a bit of a weird feeling?

TRENT BOULT: No, it's brilliant, to be honest. It's nice to be here on the World Cup stage and to see all the quality games that are going on at the moment. Just one of those things, getting to play different countries in different parts of the world, and obviously very excited about our second game tomorrow afternoon.

Q. How much of a feeling is there in the camp to really kick on after Saturday's big win?

TRENT BOULT: Yeah, I think a very excited team. Proud of the effort that we put out in the first game, and really enjoyed that occasion. It quickly gets pushed aside, and now it's a focus on Afghanistan.

Yeah, another very important game for us. Eager to get out there and hopefully put on a good show again.

Q. How did you feel about how you went personally in that match on Saturday?

TRENT BOULT: I thought a great occasion. Yeah, it was a very good feeling to be out there running around, and like I said, the way the boys stepped up and really set the tone, especially with the bat there in that powerplay, it was very, very cool to be a part of. Hopefully some good performances still to come for all of us.

Q. I'm not sure how much you actually watched the India-Pakistan game the other night, but the surface had a lot of life in it, some good pace for the quick bowlers there. You guys have got a strong pace attack. Are you excited by what the surface might offer at the G tomorrow?

TRENT BOULT: Yeah, I believe we're in a new strip again. It looked like there was a bit of pace and a bit of bounce in the surface, which is always exciting as a fast bowler. Yeah, watched all of the second innings, and that was an amazing game of cricket. Brilliant for the tournament and brilliant for cricket worldwide.

Q. To go back to that opening performance, how big of a statement did it feel you guys were making, particularly on that opening stand between Finn and Devon, 50-odd in four overs? Did that feel like you'd made a strong statement about what you guys are here to do at this tournament?

TRENT BOULT: I don't think "statement" is the right word. I think we've been coming here for many years. I've been playing for New Zealand for nearly 12 years and have never been able to beat Australia in a white ball game in Australia. To do it on that stage, yeah, it was probably one of the more prouder moments in the Black Cap strip for me, to come in and set the tone in such a big game of the World Cup, and I know the boys were buzzing, but it quickly gets moved on, and like I said, the focus switches to the next game, and after that it's going to be the same thing.

Just looking forward to, I suppose, repeating those performances and keep on setting that tone and go from there.

Q. Trent, I know we keep harping on about that first game, but how did you put it to the side, because watching it was one of the most complete performances from a New Zealand team for a while. How on earth do you put that to the side so quickly?

TRENT BOULT: It is hard, but we quickly got on a plane the next day and moved into a new hotel and started preparing for a new game. The boys spoke leading into this tournament, into that game, of what it means to be here and how exciting it is to be on this stage, and T20 cricket is about fun. It's about showing your skills and going out there and having a good time.

It was set up beautifully by the opening batsmen. The tone was set and everyone just followed really, so it was an amazing occasion.

Q. Did you catch much of the Afghanistan game? They were on after you. What do you think are some of the big threats that they pose to your lineup?

TRENT BOULT: Yeah, I didn't catch the game afterwards. We're obviously scouting them at the moment and getting ready to face a quality side. They're very experienced players. Definitely not an opposition that we'll be taking lightly. They've got guys that can clear it out of the stadium, and they have a very good bowling attack, as well.

It is business as usual from our point of view, but it's definitely a big game for us that we want to keep making sure we're doing the things that we're speaking about.

Q. You touched on it before, but there are a few of you guys in this team who have been there for a while and not beaten Australia in Australia. Did a few of you kind of chat about that after the game, reflect on just how long it's probably been coming for a lot of you guys?

TRENT BOULT: Yeah, I think there was a few smiles. Yeah, walking off the field with a win next to your name was a very unique feeling.

But no, there was a little bit of emotion involved, but the boys were just proud, I suppose, of the way they played that afternoon at that stage of the tournament with all eyes on the opening game, I suppose. Just really, really satisfying. I'm sure we'll look back on that game as one of the more enjoyable ones, but hopefully there's still a few more to come over the next couple of weeks; that's for sure.

Q. Could you see Michael Bracewell in the next match against Afghanistan?

TRENT BOULT: I'm not sure. I haven't --

Q. Spinners are really not easy so that's why I'm asking this question.

TRENT BOULT: I'm not too sure if he will be in the starting 11. But yeah, from what we saw in the match against Pakistan and India with the way the wicket looked to favour a bit of pace and bounce, yeah, I'm not too sure what the selections are there.

But we'll see tomorrow.

Q. I'm going to continue to belabor the point about Australia if I can. The last win in Australia was the Hobart Test if I'm right, and I think that was your first Test if I'm right.

TRENT BOULT: Yep, it sure was.

Q. Did your mind wander back to that day and the feeling you guys had after that game, and was it similar in any way?

TRENT BOULT: It was a few haircuts ago, but it was a pretty young and naïve Trent Boult back then, and yeah, I remember winning that game and just feeling like this is what happens all the time. But the boys quickly mentioned to me that Test wins don't come around too often, let alone wins against Australia in Australia.

Some comparables, but a lot of pride and a lot of satisfaction I reckon from just the performances that the guys put out.

Yeah, it was a few smiles walking off the field, and a quiet beer or two in the changing room, and yeah, it felt good. Obviously the big picture and the big focus is on what's to come. One game and you don't win the tournament and the World Cup in the first game, so there's still a lot of work to be done.

Q. I know it's only one game in, but sort of the record of this team at World Cup and the ability to perform at World Cups, does anything change when you get to a World Cup, the mindset, the preparation? Is there anything about this team and World Cups that you can put your finger on that brings about your ability to pull out these results?

TRENT BOULT: I don't think just for New Zealand. I think it's for all nations, especially T20 cricket. We understand how quickly it can pass. T20 cricket is literally around one or two guys stepping up on each afternoon and one or two shots can literally change a game. We're understanding that.

When it comes to World Cup pool play, there's a focus on every game to want to win, obviously, and it can get real specific with how hard batters go and what it looks like with the job with the ball. How that looks from different Bilateral Series and stuff around the world, I'm not too sure, but I don't know, you can just feel it in an ICC event that the gears go up a couple and everyone is there competing for that shiny trophy, so it's a pretty amazing stage to be on.

Q. Not to take you from happy memories to bad ones, but what has playing at the MCG meant for you over the course of your career?

TRENT BOULT: I've only played a handful of games really at the G, but yeah, an amazing stadium. Obviously to get out there and be on the World Cup stage is going to be pretty special, as well.

World Cup final there, Boxing Day for our Test, so good memories, but yeah, a lot of unfinished business out there. I won't look too far ahead, but it would be brilliant to hit another final stage out there and get a chance to lift the trophy, that's for sure.

Q. I'm told Daryl Mitchell may have been in the nets in the last few days; how is he, and does he chirp in the nets? What's he like? He must have been kind of like a cooped up little person for a while not having played for a wee bit.

TRENT BOULT: Yeah, I believe he's trained the last couple of days. I actually took the optional training yesterday. I've got my three kids here, so it was a bit of family time, which was nice.

Yeah, I can speak on behalf of Daryl and his determination and hunger to want to be out there, especially in a World Cup stage, so he'll be doing everything he can to want to be out there tomorrow afternoon.

Whether he chirps in the nets or not, I'm not too sure, but he probably doesn't say too much to me, but I'll let you know if he does.

Q. Just wondering, heads on in the nets. Your focus has obviously changed to the Afghani spinners.

TRENT BOULT: Are you talking specifically with my batting or --

Q. I want to know you personally and then the team itself, focus for the spin.

TRENT BOULT: Yeah, I've got a real trouble against right-arm off spin, so hopefully they throw some at me. I haven't thought too much about me role with the bat, but if I could get a chance to get out there at the MCG, I'll look forward to that.

Yeah, definitely focused in with the ball and the job I have to do with the powerplay and moving forward taking wickets throughout their 20. So yeah.

Their spinners in general, yeah, big players for their team. Obviously Rashid, Mujeeb, none of them need an introduction. They're very quality bowlers, and yeah, as a batting unit I'm sure we've done our homework on how to best combat them.