Black Caps v West Indies: How Matt Henry went from water runner to world’s best

Monday, 1 December 2025

Matt Henry has been among the premier fast bowlers in test cricket over the past two years.

What: First test, Black Caps v West Indies. Where: Hagley Oval, Christchurch. When: 11am Tuesday (day one of five), live on TVNZ Duke and TVNZ+.

There was once a time where Matt Henry ran out water and batting gloves to team-mates more regularly than he bowled in test cricket.

With Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Neil Wagner ahead of him in the pecking order, Henry had to wait patiently for regular chances in the playing XI.

Between his test debut against England at Lord’s in May 2015 and March 2019, Henry played just nine tests.

How things have changed.

Since 2022, Henry has been a lock in New Zealand’s test XI and consistent selection has helped unlock his best cricket, starring with the shiny red Kookaburra.

Matt Henry roars after dismissing South Africa’s Aiden Markram in the second test at Hagley Oval in 2022.

Henry has quickly become the leader of the attack with Southee and Wagner now retired and Boult’s international days over. He will again be a pivotal performer as New Zealand open the 2025-27 World Test Championship with a three-match series against the West Indies, starting on Tuesday at Henry’s Hagley Oval home in Christchurch.

The 33-year-old has certainly made up for lost time at the start of his test career.

Over the past two years he has been among the most reliable and productive test bowlers in world cricket.

Since the start of 2024, he is the sixth highest test wicket-taker with 64 scalps from 11 matches. His impressive bowling average of 16.21 is only bettered by three others in that span (minimum five tests) – Australian duo Scott Boland (13.16) and Josh Hazlewood (14.96), and Pakistan left-arm spinner Noman Ali (16.04).

Matt Henry was been a wicket-taking machine for the Black Caps in test cricket in recent years.

Stuck on the sideline early in his test career, Henry could have easily lost confidence or sulked, but said that was never an option.

“My focus was probably, and it wasn’t easy, but you’re always trying to I suppose work on what you can control and that’s trying to be a better bowler and try and not waste the opportunities you do have,” he said.

“Every time I came in to play it was never about trying to prove myself. It was about what can I do to have an impact as a bowler.”

With test appearances limited, Henry looked to county cricket in England to push himself and grow his game, featuring for Derbyshire (2017), Kent (2018 and 2022) and Somerset in 2023 and this past Kiwi winter.

Matt Henry leads the Black Caps from the field at Hagley Oval after taking 7-23 in the first innings against South Africa in 2022.

Stints in England and white ball cricket around the world for New Zealand had exposed him to a variety of different surfaces and match situations, improving his skills.

“That’s the part that has always excited me, the challenge of problem solving different surfaces or whether there’s a slope or whether you’re playing in Pakistan or India, or whether you’re playing in Dubai.

“They present different challenges. Whether that’s reverse swing, whether it’s wicket to wicket bowling or using the crease.”

Matt Henry and Kane Williamson celebrate the wicket of Australia’s Nathan Lyon at the Basin Reserve in 2024.

Henry had always believed even if you were not part of the match-day XI, you still had a role to play in training and around the playing group. Injuries were inevitable with fast bowlers and being ready, if called upon, was paramount.

“It does go deeper than the guys who are just playing. Right now you look at the depth we have and I see it as a fast bowling unit.

“If we want to have success over a long period of time you need guys to be feeling a part of the environment, feeling part of the bowling unit, and when they’re out here just enjoying the opportunity you have.”

Henry’s face lights up speaking about bowling at his Hagley home. He took career-best match figures of 9-55 there in a crushing innings defeat of South Africa in 2022, including 7-23 in the first innings.

Another nine wicket match bag followed there against Australia in 2024 (9-155). New Zealand were denied their first home test win over their trans-Tasman rivals since 1993, losing by three wickets with Alex Carey’s unbeaten 98 leading Australia to victory.

Henry has a stellar test record at Hagley, capturing 36 wickets from seven matches at 23.91. The West Indies won’t need any reminding about Henry’s threat, especially with the new ball early on, where he can be so lethal.

“I do love it. Being a proud Cantabrian and growing up here in Christchurch I remember as a kid being able to come and watch international cricket at Jade Stadium or Lancaster Park, whichever one it was.

“To be able to come here and play is such an exciting thing and something I’m really proud of to have a beautiful ground like this and it’s always very well supported here by the locals. It’s a great place to play cricket.”

AT A GLANCE:

Best test bowling averages since start of 2024 (minimum five tests):

Scott Boland (Australia) 13.16 (31 wickets from five matches)

Josh Hazlewood (Australia) 14.96 (51 wickets from 11 matches)

Noman Ali (Pakistan) 16.04 (50 wickets from six matches)

Matt Henry (New Zealand) 16.21 (64 wickets from 11 matches)

Jasprit Bumrah (India) 17.12 (102 wickets from 21 matches)