New Zealand cricketing great Ian Smith believes Blackcaps pace bowling duo Trent Boult and Tim Southee are “the best combination” the country has ever seen in Test cricket.
Boult announced his release from his New Zealand cricket contract earlier in August, prompting many to believe his days representing the fern in the five-day format may be coming to an end.
Since debuting in 2011, Boult has combined with Southee to become one of the world’s most successful opening duos, taking 541 wickets in their 65-Test tenure.
Only three other pairings in the world have achieved this feat; England’s James Anderson and Stuart Broad (973 wickets in 129 Tests), West Indies’ Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh (762 wickets in 95 matches) and Pakistan’s Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis (559 wickets in 61 Tests).
The duo lie third and fourth on the list of New Zealand’s all-time greatest wicket-takers – Southee with 347 and Boult with 317 – prompting Smith to label their contribution to New Zealand Cricket as “terrific”.
However, he believes Boult’s recent announcement signals the end of his Test career.
“I think it probably means the end of his Test career, I honestly do,” Smith said on SENZ’s The Run Home.
“That’s a shame because Southee/Boult has probably been the best combination we’ve ever had and I was alongside (Richard) Hadlee/(Ewen) Chatfield and Hadlee whoever.
“There were some pretty good combinations back then but I think these two guys – Trent Boult and Tim Southee – have been the best combo we’ve had.
“It’ll affect Tim Southee a lot because when bowlers bowl in tandem, they get to know and they respect each other and know and one guy knows what the other guy’s strategy is and he supports that from his end, so they’ve been good together, terrific.
“It will be a hell of a hole in New Zealand Cricket if Trent Boult is not able to take the new ball in Test cricket for us so that is a worry, but that’s what I suspect.”
While the duo may have already played their last Test together, their services have been utilised in the Blackcaps’ recent T20I and ODI matches against the West Indies.
Boult is also expected to take part in October’s T20 Cricket World Cup, where his opening partnership with Southee will be integral to their success in the Australian conditions.