Barring injury, Trent Boult will represent New Zealand at this year's Cricket World Cup in India, Blackcaps coach Gary Stead has confirmed.
Boult hasn't played for the Blackcaps since last year's Twenty20 World Cup in Australia and is currently operating as a freelance cricketer across various overseas leagues.
Last August, the 33-year-old made the decision to opt out of his NZ Cricket central contract, as a means of pursuing franchise opportunities and spending more time with his family.
Since his last international, Boult has represented Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, Mumbai Indians Emirates in the UAE's International League T20 and Melbourne Stars in Australia's Big Bash League.
That has come at the expense of representing his country, with NZ Cricket's prioritising contracted players.
In February, Boult was overlooked for the Blackcaps' two-test series against England - despite an injury crisis that saw Blair Tickner and Scott Kuggeleijn making debuts instead. The veteran left-armer lives just minutes away from Mt Maunganui's Bay Oval, the first-test venue.
Boult is again not included among the 20 contracted players, along with Martin Guptill, Colin de Grandhomme and Jimmy Neesham, all of whom opted out.
However, Boult has still committed to being available to the Blackcaps - albeit on what's been called a "casual playing agreement".
Players who agree to casual agreements aren't guaranteed playing appearances, but are still able to make use of New Zealand Cricket's high performance facilities, and receive a small financial retainer.
When he gave back his contract, Boult maintained he would remain available for world tournaments, provided he is selected, and with the Blackcaps likely without white-ball captain Kane Williamson for this year's World Cup, Stead confirms a player of Boult's quality cannot - and will not - be overlooked.
"We're having positive conversations with Trent," said Stead. "He has indicated he's available for the World Cup for us.
"From our perspective, for us, he's one of the best ODI bowlers in the world. Barring injury, it's highly likely he'll be part of our squad for the World Cup."
Boult's status as a white-ball great is also matched by his abilities with a red ball. Only Sir Richard Hadlee, Tim Southee and Daniel Vettori have taken more test wickets for New Zealand, and Boult has said he hopes his time in whites isn't finished.
While fitting test commitments around the various Twenty20 leagues will be difficult for Boult and Blackcaps selectors, Stead insists that door isn't shut.
"That's still being discussed at the moment. Trent has other leagues that he's committed to as well.
"We're just working through that and what exactly it will mean. The conversations are positive though.
"He's indicated a willingness to play and a willingness to be involved, it's just marrying up what works and working out what readiness means from our perspective, around test cricket in particular.
"He's indicated he's keen to be involved, but again, that depends on how that lines up."
