Boult faces fitness test

Key New Zealand paceman Trent Boult has back trouble and must prove his fitness in training to play in this week's historic day-night Test against Australia, coach Mike Hesson said Monday.

The left-armer has an irritated disc in his back, similar to the complaint which hindered his new ball partner Tim Southee during the first Test loss in Brisbane.

Boult did not bowl in the two-day tour practice game against a Western Australia XI in Perth over the weekend, and needs to show he can deliver at full pace without hindrance to play in Friday's third Test in Adelaide.

"We'll have to see how he travels to Adelaide but he's certainly an option for the Test," Hesson told reporters.