Trent Boult Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Trent Boult wants to play for the Black Caps again.
The veteran pace bowler still has "a big desire" to represent New Zealand at the 50-over World Cup in India later this year, and remains hopeful that he will add to his 78 Test caps.
Boult was released from his central contract last August at his own request in order to spend more time with his family and increase his availability for franchise leagues around the world.
He has not played any international cricket since New Zealand's T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to Pakistan in November and has not played a Test match in nearly a year, with New Zealand prioritising contracted players in their selection.
But, in an interview with ESPNcricinfo in Jaipur, where he has been representing Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, Boult expressed his hope that he will return to India in October-November for the ODI World Cup.
"I've still got that big desire to play for New Zealand," Boult said.
"It is what it is: I've made my decision. I've been lucky enough to have a 13-year career in the Black Cap and hey, I've still got a big desire to play in the World Cup as well. We'll see how that unfolds: there's still a bit of movement in the landscape at the moment.
"I remember after the 2019 final, I said to Kane [Williamson] that we've got to be there again, come 2023 in India. It's a shame with what's going on with his knee but he'll be working as hard as he can to try and get there. It's such a great tournament… One hundred percent, I've got that desire to be out there.
"We're a great one-day side. We've got some players that have travelled to India and experienced the conditions a lot, and that's what it comes down to in World Cups. You can't buy experience, and you can't replace players that have toured for however many years across these conditions."
Trent Boult playing for Rajasthan Royals Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Boult has not featured in any of New Zealand's past six Test matches, and in February, was overlooked for the fixture against England in Mount Maunganui, where he and his family are based. "It felt bizarre," he said. "Test match cricket was on, a couple of kilometres down the road, and I wasn't part of it."
But he retains hope that he will be considered for their home Tests against Australia and South Africa in early 2024.
"Hopefully not, no," he said, asked if he had played his final Test match. "There are some big Tests coming up next year: Australia and South Africa are due to travel to New Zealand. And Test cricket is still my favourite format.
"I've played nearly 80 Tests and had some pretty great times in the Black Cap, but they said that, if I chose to move away from that contract, my time in it would be limited. And I'm pretty sure they've never had anyone play Test cricket that isn't contracted - so that probably makes it hard as well."
Boult has played in the Big Bash League and the ILT20 since stepping away from his national contract, and is likely to play in at least one other league later this year. With new tournaments emerging, heavily backed by IPL franchises, he predicted: "International cricket, I think, is going to suffer in some aspects.
"It's an interesting time for both franchise and international cricket, I reckon," Boult said. "The leagues - there's a lot of movement happening in that space, but the golden question is what it's going to look like in a couple of years."
-ESPNCRICINFO