Cricket: Trent Boult eager to swing things Black Caps' way in series decider

Trent Boult and the Black Caps bowlers laboured for wickets in the first test against Sri Lanka, drawing a blank against Angelo Mathews (right) and Kusal Mendis. Photo / Getty Images

Trent Boult is hoping to get back into the swing of things when he returns to a venue which holds good memories.

Boult is set to lead the Black Caps bowling attack once more in the second and final test against Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval - where a win would give New Zealand another series victory.

After ripping through Pakistan in the first innings of the first test in Abu Dhabi, Boult hasn't quite hit the same heights since, taking just five wickets at an average of 69.2 in his last six test innings with the ball.

Boult says he's "pretty happy" with his pace, regularly getting above 140km/h in the first Sri Lankan test, but has been hoping to generate more swing.

"I'd like to see the ball swinging around a little bit more. It literally hasn't swung bar the pink ball test. It hasn't really swung around like it did in the olden days ... since the World Cup. [But I'm] happy with the way it's coming out, the rhythm, too, is relatively good, and I'm hoping for another big summer," he told Martin Devlin on Newstalk ZB.

A return to Hagley Oval might prove what Boult needs to get back amongst the wickets, having taken the most of any player at the ground, with 28 scalps at an average of 24.42 leading to four victories in five tests.

To keep that solid record intact, he'll need to break through Sri Lanka's batting resistance, after they batted for over a day unbroken to earn a draw in the first test in Wellington.

"We need to find a way to get 20 wickets, that's the beauty of test cricket, that's the challenge.

"As a bowling unit, that's what we're always working on. We're trying to find alternate ways to build pressure and get wickets.

"We know we've got the skills in the tank - the experience and the balance in the side there to cash in."

Boult is optimistic, and has every right to be, considering New Zealand's performances of late. He believes new faces, aggressive leadership and depth of talent have been big reasons for their recent success.

"It's been exciting. It's been nice to have a few new guys in the side. That was the greatest part [of the series victory over Pakistan] - guys come into the side, take it in their stride, puffing their chest out a bit and getting the job done.

"I look back on a few memories when we were struggling to put the performances together, and have been involved in a few form slumps.

"But it's a new age of cricket. It obviously turned with Brendon and his style of leadership - going out there and being aggressive - and Kane's just furthered that on even more.

"We know we've got a lot of depth here and a lot of competition for spots, so it's cool."