New Zealand have been hit by another injury blow as the visitors will miss out on the services of pace-bowling spearhead Trent Boult for the third Test. The left-arm pacer will return home due to a fracture on his right hand after being hit with a ball. New Zealand Cricket Board is expected to name his replacement after the second Test.
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The ongoing season hasn’t been a great one for Boult. The 30-year-old suffered issues in his ribs during the home series against England and had to miss the second Test. He also missed the opening Test of the Australia series in Perth and is now all set to miss the action for almost one month.
Boult continued to bowl during the final session on day 3 and is expected to contribute on the fourth day as well. He might also come out to bat but only if New Zealand can pull off something extraordinary in the fourth innings, which is unlikely to happen.
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As the things stand now, the visitors are trailing by a margin of 456 runs. Australia were four down at 137 at the end of day 3 and are expected to bat for one session before asking the visitors to chase a target of over 500.
New Zealand were bowled out for 148 in reply to Australia’s first innings score of 467 and conceded a lead of 319 runs. Tim Paine opted to bat again to pile on the lead.
Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry are two pacers in the squad who can replace Boult in the playing XI in the third Test. Though looking at conditions, Todd Astle holds a strong chance of adding the fifth Test cap to his name.
The third and the final Test of the series will be played at Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7. Australia have already called up uncapped leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson for the final Test of the series.