Speed not on Trent Boult's radar

BOULT OF LIGHTENING: Bay of Plenty's Trent Boult is a key part of the New Zealand bowling attack for the second test against Australia in Perth. PHOTO/ALAN GIBSON

Bowler disputes claims he is not up to test series

TRENT Boult will not be paying any attention to the speed ball radar during the second test against Australia, which started yesterday at Perth's famed WACA ground.

The Rotorua-born pace bowler does not rate the fairness of the speed gun numbers, attributed to bowlers in the first test at the Gabba, where the Black Caps quicks all looked to be well below their normal pace.

Boult was recorded up to 10km slower, raising suggestions he was underdone going into the first test after a winter convalescing at home after a back injury that flared up on the tour of England.

But he said the radar speeds may not be accurately measuring how quickly opposition bowlers were, compared to their Australian opponents.

"I don't pay attention to it. I don't look up after each delivery and try to see the numbers or wondering what is going on," Boult said.

"Those radars work in funny ways sometimes. It is quite unusual how some of us can be bowling at 120km and we go out there and face them and they're 155km. So it is not something I look at in too much depth."

Boult refutes suggestions he was not ready to play at the Gabba after finishing with bowling returns of 1/127 and 1/61, way below his outstanding career average of 28.19 runs conceded per wicket.

"I don't think I was underdone. I feel I have worked as hard as I can over the last two or three months to get right for obviously the start of this tour. It was my second game in Australia and obviously a pretty intimidating place to go, the Gabba, and playing against one of the best teams in the world.

"I know I didn't get it right at points, but I will definitely be a lot better for the run there and I have still taken a bit of confidence out of it," he said.

Kane Williamson was the star of the first test for the Black Caps, scoring 140 and 59 to move his test average over 47 and break more New Zealand scoring records.

Boult is not surprised with Williamson's success, who along with Doug Bracewell played cricket with Boult at intermediate level in Tauranga.

"I've been good mates with Kane since I was 10 years old and everyone knew he was destined to these great heights," Boult said. "The way he played the other day was superb and another cliche innings. The fact he is blowing away all these stats is not too much of a surprise in my opinion.

"He works incredibly hard at his game."