Trent Boult may have to be replaced in the Wellington Test due to injury

It is highly doubtful if New Zealand quick Trent Boult will feature in the second Test of the three-match series against South Africa, starting on March 16 at the Basin Reserve. The pace spearhead is nursing a sore hip which troubled him in the Dunedin Test and was not seen training full tilt with the squad on Monday.

The left-arm fast bowler had left the field on day four of the Test match after bowling 15 overs in South Africa’s second innings. It was expected that he would return on the final day, but that day was a washout. If Boult is ruled unfit for the second Test, his replacement can be either Tim Southee or Matt Henry.

South Africa are expecting Southee to return on a surface which will be suited to the bowler, although there is also a possibility of the Black Caps opting to include both Henry and Southee if Boult is ruled out. “Southee is a quality bowler, very skilled, especially in these conditions,” ESPNcrincinfo quoted South Africa batsman Temba Bavuma as saying.

“Fortunately, we’ve played against him, I’ve played against him. We are aware of what he brings to the party. We will make sure we pay as much attention as we can to him and make sure he is not successful against us,” he added.

Bavuma has not yet examined Wellington pitch which was uncovered on Tuesday, for the first time since the city’s rains began on Friday. More than 70 mm of rain has fallen over the last four days. The strip was covered in green grass two days before the Test, which should suit South Africa’s bowling attack.

Tuesday was dominated by high winds and heavy clouds but the weather is set to improve in time for the match, ground staff Hagen Faith says the match will be a cracker. “A lot of first-class stuff has gone down to that last day, final session, and we have seen that here with Test matches as well.”