Black Caps won't risk Boult for final Proteas Test, 1st Test hero Henry to be retained

Boult missed the first Test of the two-match series due to his wife giving birth to their third child but has linked up with the squad ahead of the second game that starts at the Hagley Oval on Friday.

The 32-year-old Boult last played competitive cricket when he turned out in New Zealand's domestic T20 tournament in two matches for Northern Districts on 21 and 24 January.

"[He] is not in a position to be available with his loads and where he's at," Stead said.

"Since his wife has been having the baby he's missed out on a lot of opportunities to play cricket and bowl. We just felt the risk of him playing was far too great at the moment."

The Black Caps won the first Test without Boult as they thrashed the Proteas by an innings and 276 runs with the visitors bowled out for 95 and 111.

Boult's replacement Matt Henry took career-best figures of 7-23 in the first innings and looks set to be included again in an unchanged pace attack for the second and final Test alongside Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner.

"He's always been a good bowler and sometimes you need that opportunity to strike and make the most it," Stead said of Henry.

"He bowled beautifully throughout the Test but I thought the whole bowling unit bowled really well together and thought that was one of the reasons we were so convincing."