Trent Boult has missed his only chance at match practice with the pink ball before the Adelaide Test and his fitness will be heavily scrutinised before the series finale. 
The nine bowlers New Zealand used in their two-day practice match against Western Australia at the WACA Ground did not include Boult. The left-armer sat on the sidelines in his whites but, when Tim Southee returned to the field to use the second new ball, Boult stayed off the ground.
The main beneficiary of Boult's absence was Neil Wagner. The left-armer claimed 5-62 but while he is said to be quicker than he looks, he is not the strike bowler Boult was expected to be in this series.
Boult, 26, managed only one first-class match before the tour, following a stint on the sidelines due to a mid-year back injury he suffered in England. While he bowled better in Perth than he did in Brisbane, his series record stands at six wickets at an average of 64.67. Furthermore, his pace is well below what it was during the World Cup, when he rivalled Mitch Starc as the most dangerous bowler in the tournament.
New Zealand bowling coach Dimi Mascarenhas said he was not aware of Boult being hampered by his back, or any other ailment, and expected he would be available for the series-ending Test in Adelaide.
"We'll assess him over the next couple of days ... he's on track to be fit for the third Test," he said.