Boult could make surprise return for second Test
New Zealand pace spearhead Trent Boult could make a surprise return to the team for the second Test against England, which begins on Thursday, coach Gary Stead said.
Boult missed the first drawn Test at Lord's after opting to spend time with family following the Indian Premier League's suspension.
Stead had said before the first Test that Boult would probably miss the two-Test series, but on Monday he said the bowler, who joined the squad late last week, could be available after he was out of isolation earlier than expected.
"There's a chance, there are a few things that have changed," Stead said. "The British government have relaxed their quarantine stipulations so Trent is out of isolation three or four days earlier than expected.
"The original plan we had in place...was we weren't going to play him in the second Test, but coming out of that isolation probably three days earlier than what we originally anticipated does put a slightly different spin on it.
"We'll weigh up the pros and cons and work out with Trent what we think is the best course forward to make sure he is fit and raring to go for that final."
England captain Joe Root, who showed incredible patience for his 40 in the final session, said they adopted a cautious approach given the quality of the visiting bowling attack on a deteriorating surface in the first Test.
"It was slow and hard to time the ball and get any sort of rhythm," Root told the BBC. "You look at the target and amount of overs you have, it wasn't quite as straightforward as that.
"Of course it will disappoint a few people but from our point of view, we're very much in this series. "We leave here level and give ourselves a great chance to win the series at Edgbaston."
New Zealand may have missed an opportunity to put England on the ropes ahead of the second Test, but captain Kane Williamson can take plenty of positives from Lord's.
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