The veteran New Zealand fast bowler, Trent Boult is looking forward to the challenge of bowling at someone like the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli on his return to international cricket during the two-match Test series starting in Wellington on Friday. Boult sustained a fracture on his right hand during the Boxing Day Test against Australia and missed out on the limited-overs leg of the India series. Back for the traditional format, the southpaw pacer made his priorities clear ahead of the first Test.

Sending a warning to the Indian team, Boult said, “That’s personally why I play the game, to get guys like that (Kohli) out and test myself against them, so I can’t wait to get stuck in. Everyone knows how great he is. They are a great side and they are leading the ICC Test Championship. They are very clear about how they wanted to play the game.”

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The Basin Reserve track in Wellington will have a lot for the seamers and in conducive conditions, a swing bowler like Boult can become too hot to handle for the visitors. He also said that it was frustrating for him to watch his team get whitewashed 0-5 in the T20 series but exhilarating when it got its mojo back in the subsequent ODIs.

Talking about the feeling, Boult said, “I think it is what it is. I have just got to put the last six or so weeks behind me and just back myself to get out there and do my thing. I was pushing in off the long run. I think a couple of the clubbies from Taupo really enjoyed that. It was a good afternoon.”

Professionally, Boult had to lie low due to injury, but he considered it as a good break from cricket and in the meantime, his wife Lana welcomed their second child.

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Describing the feeling, the pacer said, “Having some time away from the game and having my second son a couple of weeks ago came at quite a good time. I am hungry to be here and can’t wait to get back in the white and get the red ball moving around.”