How Black Cap Matt Henry went from one-time bowling cover to world’s best

Wednesday, 30 July 2025

The New Zealand-based South African succeeds Gary Stead as the Black Caps coach over all three formats.

What: First test; Black Caps v Zimbabwe; When: Wednesday-Sunday (8pm start each day NZT); Where: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; Live coverage: Live on Three Now.

Matt Henry might never get a better shot at a first 10-for in test cricket.

The Black Caps return to red ball cricket for the first time in 225 days in a two-match series against Zimbabwe, starting on Wednesday in Bulawayo.

In new head coach Rob Walter’s first test series, New Zealand will be expected to win and win handsomely against a Zimbabwe side they have never lost to in 17 tests (11 wins and six draws). The Black Caps are red-hot $1.11 favourites for victory in the first test at the TAB.

Henry, the leader of New Zealand’s pace attack, should be licking his lips.

He has captured nine wickets in a match twice, both at his Hagley Oval home in Christchurch (against South Africa in 2022 and Australia in 2024), but is yet to achieve an elusive 10-for.

New Zealand’s Matt Henry has snared 48 test wickets at 18.58 in nine matches since the start of last year.

While New Zealand could spread the wickets around against Zimbabwe, if Henry can cause damage early with the new ball he might not get a clearer opportunity.

Not only has the 33-year-old been the pick of the Black Caps’ red ball quicks in recent years, he has been one of the best in the world.

Since the start of 2024, Henry has snared 48 test wickets from nine matches at an average of 18.58 and strike rate of 33.9.

Among those who have played seven or more matches in that span, only brilliant Indian Jasprit Bumrah (16.74) and Australian standout Josh Hazlewood (14.96) have lower averages.

Matt Henry celebrates a wicket against Australia at Hagley Oval in 2024, a match he took 9-161 in.

Henry’s test form has been so impressive he is widely considered one of the premier seam bowlers in test cricket today.

Wisden, the Bible of cricket, picked Henry in their current World Test XI this month, joining Bumrah and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada as their pace bowlers. Henry, the lone New Zealander in the side, was preferred over outstanding Australian trio Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc.

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

Often serving as bowling cover during that time with Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Neil Wagner established as New Zealand’s first-choice seam attack, Henry had to bide his time.

Sir Richard Hadlee Medal winner Matt Henry poses with the bowling great at this year’s New Zealand Cricket Awards.

Boult’s decision to step away from his NZC contract and pursue T20 franchise opportunities in 2022 effectively ended his test days and Henry was a major beneficiary.

Add in the retirements of Wagner and Southee over the last 16 months and Henry has quickly become New Zealand’s most important red ball seamer.

The Cantabrian collected the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal as New Zealand’s best men’s cricketer at the NZ Cricket Awards in April. He was also recognised as men’s test and ODI player of the year and was awarded the Winsor Cup (men’s first-class bowling).

Matt Henry reacts after taking the wicket of Australia’s Pat Cummins in a 2024 test at Hagley Oval.

Frustratingly for New Zealand, who will be expected to win 2-0, this series does not count for the 2025-27 World Test Championship.

That will instead start with a three-match home series against the West Indies on grassy pre-Christmas pitches, beginning at Hagley Oval on December 2.

The Black Caps’ WTC schedule gets tougher from there with three tests in England in June next year, two at home against India in November 2026, then a much anticipated four-test tour of Australia either side of Christmas 2026.

Henry and Will O’Rourke will take the new ball in Bulawayo, but the rest of the bowling make-up is up for discussion.

Otago’s Jacob Duffy could be poised to become New Zealand test cricketer No 289 joining them in a three-pronged attack.

Captain Tom Latham has been ruled out of the match after failing to recover from a shoulder injury in time.

Mitchell Santner will become New Zealand’s 32nd men’s test captain.

AT A GLANCE:

New Zealand (from): Mitchell Santner (c), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Will Young.

Zimbabwe (from): Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Roy Kaia, Tanunurwa Makoni, Clive Madande, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nick Welch, Sean Williams.