New Zealand's Trent Boult [Source: Reuters]

Trent Boult was named in the New Zealand squad for part of the upcoming Twenty20 series against Australia on Wednesday, indicating that the veteran fast bowler is still in the frame for the World Cup in June.

Boult, who has appeared sporadically in limited overs cricket for his country since moving off a central contract with New Zealand Cricket in 2022, will be available for the second and final matches of the series.

That will allow his strike partner of many years, Tim Southee, a rest after the first match in the series in Wellington on Feb. 21 before he captains the Black Caps in two home tests against Australia.

New Zealand will field a weakened batting line-up in the T20 series with Kane Williamson absent on paternity leave and Daryl Mitchell missing out with a foot injury. Both are expected to be available for the test matches.

Their absence resulted in call ups for the uncapped Josh Clarkson and his fellow all-rounder Rachin Ravindra, who shone at last year’s 50-overs World Cup and has made a successful return to test cricket in the ongoing South Africa series.

The second and third matches in the series take place at Auckland’s Eden Park on Feb. 23 and 25.

Squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Trent Boult*, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee**