Don't expect much help from Caribbean pitches: New Zealand pacer

Wellington, May 22 (IANS/CMC) Pacer Trent Boult says he is not expecting wickets friendly to fast bowlers in the Caribbean when New Zealand take on the West Indies in a three-Test series starting next month.

The Black Caps depart Saturday, heading to Jamaica's Montego Bay for a 10-day camp, which includes two warm-up games, ahead of the first Test in Jamaica, beginning June 8, reports CMC.

Boult, who has formed a formidable partnership with Tim Southee as New Zealand's dangerous new ball-duo, says the use of the new ball and the reverse swing will factor heavily in the outcome of matches.

"The wickets aren't really going to be too pace bowler-friendly I guess. But it's all part of it," Boult said.

"It's about Test cricket and it's about touring. It's going to be exciting."

New Zealand recently surpassed Sri Lanka to reach No. 6 in the ICC rankings, having had a wonderful home summer in scoring series wins over both the Windies and India.

Against the West Indies, Boult, who has now moved to a career-high No. 7 in the Test bowling rankings, totalled 20 wickets at an average of 15.4.

"There are flat wickets in New Zealand, there are flat wickets everywhere, so using the new ball, using the swing is going to be important, and then reverse swing's got to factor into it in the later part of the innings," said Boult who has played just 22 Tests but has 82 scalps to his name at an impressive average of 26.59.

"So if we can exploit those two things, as well as staying to our lines and staying to our plans, I think yeah, we're going to be successful. We've taken a lot of confidence out of what we've done to their lineup here in New Zealand."

The Caribbean tour is Boult's second since New Zealand's disastrous tour of 2012.

--IANS/CMC

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