Trent Boult will not have a competitive hit-out before the Boxing Day Test after jetlagged New Zealand's troublesome tour took another twist on Thursday.

In a blow to Boult's preparations for the second Test, the first day of the Black Caps' scratch match against a Victorian XI has been cancelled because of extreme heat.

New Zealand's players are still feeling the effects of the first Test, which was played in extreme heat in Perth. Credit:Getty

The Kiwis had been due to bowl on Friday but with temperatures expected to soar into the 40s, the decision was made not to play. The tourists will instead have a training session in cooler conditions at the MCG on Saturday before their batsmen pad up on Sunday.

"It's meant to be somewhere between 43 to 45 degrees tomorrow so us, along with Cricket Victoria, have decided to cancel tomorrow's game purely on player welfare," Black Caps coach Gary Stead said.