Calcutta: Trent Alexander Boult, joint highest wicket-taker (22 victims, the same number as Mitchell Starc) in the World Cup, earlier this year, and New Zealand's most successful bowler on the current tour of England, recently spoke to The Telegraph.

Boult, who turns 26 next month, is among the best-looking cricketers of the present times. He's pretty soft-spoken, by the way.

Excerpts...

Q Rugby, for example, is big in New Zealand... So, did cricket and fast bowling actually come naturally to you?

A Sure, rugby is big back home, but I have an elder brother (Jonathan), who took to cricket before I did and, as he's a batsman, I necessarily had to be the bowler in our backyard... The 'contests' in our backyard served as good preparation for me.

Inspiration?

I grew up admiring Wasim Akram... Admired the way he swung the ball at such pace and kept pegging back the stumps... In more recent years, I've idolised Dale Steyn. It's a privilege that I shared the Sunrisers Hyderabad dressing room with him and, as a result, got to know him better.

Did Steyn and you specifically talk about the technical aspects of fast bowling?

My interactions with Steyn have helped me understand how he operates. Of course, I picked his brain to try and appreciate how he approached T20 cricket.

Outside cricket, who has had the biggest influence on you?

My parents, Ian and Wendy. Also my brother, Jonathan, who is probably the first person I turn to if I have a problem.

You're able to swing it both ways at such high pace. What's the secret?

A lot of hard work has gone into it... To get the seam to come out right. Pace, I think, is the result of good rhythm.

What counts for more - pace or control?

Control is very important. That's the key.

You've emerged as New Zealand's most potent weapon with the ball... What's it like wearing that premier strike bowler's hat?

(Smiles) New Zealand have quite a few strike bowlers. Tim Southee, for example... Southee and I have a great relationship and we enjoy bowling in tandem. Hopefully, we'll be able to continue together for some seasons to come.

What about the responsibility which comes with the job?

I try not to think about it too much, try not to put unnecessary pressure on myself. I concentrate on line and length, looking to be as accurate as possible.

Pressure?

Things fall in place if I keep it simple. The laws and rules are the same for everybody, so it's best not to complicate matters. That way, there's no extra pressure. Perhaps, I should add that I love the challenge of Test cricket, my No.1 format. Really, there's nothing better than battling it out over five days.

That's refreshing in an era when many are happy simply playing the ODIs and T20Is...

I consider myself to be a red ball-specialist... That's my speciality, though I've learnt so much by playing ODIs and featuring in, say, the IPL. Test cricket is the format which has so much history and tradition.

What does it take to succeed in Test cricket vis-a-vis ODIs and T20Is?

The challenges are different. In Test cricket, for one, you've got to be durable. You've got to be incredibly fit to bowl 20-25 overs in a day and be back again the next morning. It's a challenge I enjoy, definitely don't see it as a chore.

Do you set goals?

Yes, I am a bit of a goal-setter.

How would you term your experience with the Sunrisers?

The environment was brilliant, with neither the franchise nor any of the sponsors putting unnecessary pressure.

In the IPL, did you have to alter your thinking? Or, because you're an attacking bowler, things came easy...

Nothing comes easy. In the IPL, bowlers have four overs in every match, so I tried to make a difference in those four overs. Tried to make the most of opportunities.

[The Sunrisers finished sixth, a point behind the Kolkata Knight Riders, in the last IPL. The eighth edition was Boult's maiden one. He played in only seven of the 14 matches, though.]

You had a terrific World Cup. Except the final, all of New Zealand's matches were at home... Wasn't that a big advantage?

Obviously, you know the conditions at home very well... You aren't in two minds over the length to bowl, know where the ball will swing to what extent... I enjoyed the tournament, and at the end of it, finished a better cricketer.

Losing in the final, to Australia, must still be hurting...

Finishing second-best after such an outstanding World Cup, collectively, has been very painful. We just didn't put enough runs on the board (New Zealand, batting first, managed no more than 183) and put too much pressure on ourselves. If we could, we'd love to have another crack at Australia, but that's not possible. Can't be done.

What's it like having the aggressive Brendon McCullum as the New Zealand captain?

Brendon, for me, is the founder of the attacking brand of cricket. He's always thinking about the game, thinking of ways to stay ahead of the opposition... As captain, he's been brilliant. It's great working with him.

In December, you'll complete four years of international cricket. How would you describe the journey?

I've learnt to be patient, to hang in there for the long haul. I'd say I'm (still) learning when it comes to ODIs and T20Is.

The top challenge...

With so much cricket around the year, you need to be clear about what you want to go for and what you don't want to go for. Fast bowlers have a limited career span, so one needs rest and adequate time to recover. As I've said, I love Test cricket. In order to peak at the right time, I have to be smart.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

(Smiles) Hopefully, still doing well for New Zealand and having a few hundred wickets against my name... Hopefully, staying fit... Hopefully, I'd still be enjoying my cricket.

What's your preferred mode of unwinding?

At the end of a hectic day, I'd prefer to watch TV in the hotel room, order something from room service... In between matches, I like to hit the golf course.

Favourite golfer...

Used to be Tiger Woods. But, now, Rory McIlroy is the one to beat.

How do you handle all the attention from the female fans?

Don't worry about such attention. Look, I'm in a relationship (with Gert Smith).

Impressions of India...

Having travelled all over, I can say it's amazing.

Finally... Virat Kohli and you both featured in the 2008 U-19 World Cup, which was won by India... What did you make of Virat, then the India captain, who is today captaining our Test team...

I recall we lost to India in the semi-final, on the D/L Method... That was probably my first day-night match... Virat got some runs (43)... He's worked hard on his game, improved a lot and is on the way to greatness. Actually, I quite enjoy watching Virat bat.