Boult unlocks knuckle ball, hits 200 wickets

Pace bowling is tough work on slow tracks in the subcontinent. There is no movement on offer and the heat can get to you.

- Sanjjeev K Samyal

But the smart bowlers acquire the skills to be effective in these unhelpful conditions as well. Trent Boult is fine example. The bowlers from outside the subcontinent usually struggle more, but he is as skilful as any other pacer from the region.

The most effective pacers in these conditions come from Pakistan and India and their art lies in the wrist work. Boult is in their mould. Any deviation off the pitch can put off the best of batters. It's about mastering the perfect wrist position and landing on the seam to generate that deviation. Then you add variations to your armoury and you are ready to bowl in these conditions. Boult has these skills. It is the reason he is in such high demand in the Indian Premier League.

The left-arm pacer had the confidence to turn into a freelancer, opting out of the central contract with the New Zealand Cricket. His record is such that he knows he is good enough to be picked in his national team for important tournaments while he makes solid money plying his trade in the T20 leagues around the world. And at 34, it makes great financial sense before he calls it a day.

In the 2015 World Cup, Boult finished as the joint leading wicket taker with 22 wickets in nine matches, in a tournament co-hosted by New Zealand, who were the runners-up.