Matt Henry https://www.cricketwinner.com Matt Henry Wed, 03 Sep 2025 06:07:09 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html https://github.com/jpmonette/feed en Copyright © 2024 Cricket Winner. All Rights Reserved. <![CDATA[Top 10 Best Test Bowlers Worldwide After ENG vs IND 2025 Series Featuring Bumrah & Rabada]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-analysis/top-10-best-test-bowlers-worldwide-after-eng-vs-ind-2025-series-featuring-bumrah-rabada/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-analysis/top-10-best-test-bowlers-worldwide-after-eng-vs-ind-2025-series-featuring-bumrah-rabada/ Mon, 11 Aug 2025 16:36:19 GMT

The cricket world is full of great fast bowlers right now, especially in Test cricket. Although former players like Kevin Pietersen think the current bowlers are less effective than those from the past, this is a personal opinion. Since playing conditions and styles have changed a lot over the years, it is not fair to say the current players are worse than the older ones.

No matter how the game changes, fast bowlers will always be important in the team. They can make a big impact with the new ball, rough up the old ball for the spinners, and use reverse swing. These are just some reasons why fast bowlers are necessary and cannot be left out. With that said, let’s rank the world’s 10 best Test bowlers after the ENG vs IND 2025 series.

10. Marco Jansen 

Marco Jansen from South Africa is a true all-round player. He can bowl fast, with good bounce and swing. He can also score important runs in the lower-middle order. The tall left-handed pacer is strong with the ball because he gets pace and bounce. He can also hit the ball well, making him a threat as a batsman. Jansen made his Test debut against India in the Boxing Day Test in 2021. He was the first player born in the 2000s to play for South Africa. Jansen made a big impact by taking 7 wickets for just 13 runs. He has the best bowling figures by a pacer in World Test Championship (WTC) history.

In Test cricket, he has bowled 488.1 overs and given away 1696 runs. He has taken 77 wickets with an average of 22.03. He has taken five wickets in an innings three times and ten wickets in a match once. His best bowling in an innings is 7 wickets for 13 runs, and his best in a match is 11 wickets for 86 runs. His economy rate is 3.47, and his strike rate is 38.04.

09. Jayden Seales

Seales is one of the few good players for the West Indies during a tough time in Test cricket. The right-arm fast bowler has been one of the best for his team since he came back in 2024 after being away for two years. He played very well in the England tour in 2024, taking 13 wickets in three Tests. He was the top wicket-taker for the visitors, with an average of 27.23.

Since then, Seales has been very consistent. He took his best six wickets in one innings against South Africa and performed very well against Bangladesh. He was also the joint second-highest wicket-taker for West Indies in their 0-3 loss against Australia at home. After that, he moved up to 11th place in the rankings.

08.  Matt Henry

Matt Henry is now the main bowler for New Zealand after playing a supporting role for many years. With a good mix of experience and skill, he finished the last WTC cycle as the eighth-highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers. The right-arm bowler recently took 16 wickets in the 2-0 series win against Zimbabwe, which helped him reach fourth place in the ICC Test Rankings for bowlers. He played a big part in New Zealand’s famous 3-0 win against India in spin-friendly conditions. Before that, he also had an important series against Australia at home.

07. Gus Atkinson

The right-arm pacer showed how much England missed him during most of the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar series by taking eight wickets after returning from injury. Atkinson’s role in red-ball cricket became very important for England after James Anderson and Stuart Broad retired. He made a big impact right away, taking ten wickets on his debut at Lord’s. He finished the 2024 home series against the West Indies as the top wicket-taker with 22 wickets. Atkinson kept playing well during the rest of the home season and stayed consistent in away games in Pakistan and New Zealand. The England pacer is now ranked 11th in the world and is expected to play an important role in the upcoming 2025-26 Ashes series.

06. Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj is the man of the moment. People talk a lot about his workload, but what matters most is his skill. The right-arm pacer has quickly risen in red-ball cricket and is now the main bowler for India during a time of change. Siraj has worked hard on his skills and has become a big threat to opponents. Taking more than 20 wickets in Australia and England in back-to-back series helped him reach a career-best 15th place in the rankings, and he will likely go higher.

05.  Mitchell Starc

The experienced left-arm bowler took wickets easily in the recent three-match series against the West Indies in the Caribbean. He was the top wicket-taker for Australia with 15 wickets, including an amazing 6 for 9 that helped bowl out the West Indies for just 27 runs. Starc, who recently played his 100th Test, showed he is still one of the best fast bowlers in the world. His pace, power, and skill have not dropped, and he remains one of the top pacers today.

04. Josh Hazlewood

Despite injuries, Josh Hazlewood has stayed in the top five of the ICC Test Rankings. When fit, he always returns to the team. The right-arm bowler is known for bowling in the right spot and getting good bounce, which troubles many teams, especially in Australia. He had a quiet Border-Gavaskar series and WTC Final, but he is still a strong threat. Hazlewood will be one of the biggest dangers to England in the upcoming Ashes.

03. Kagiso Rabada

Rabada is the main bowler for South Africa and one of the best fast bowlers today. His historic nine-wicket haul at Lord’s helped South Africa win the mace, putting his name among the greats. He bowls with real pace and strong intensity, along with great skill. Rabada is now the world’s second-ranked bowler after his great performance in the WTC Final. South Africa will rely on him to play well again to keep their title.

02. Pat Cummins

The Australian captain fought a great battle against Rabada in the WTC Final. Both showed they are two of the best bowlers, with almost no difference between them. After Rabada took five wickets in the first innings, Cummins answered with six wickets of his own. He also played well against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and was the leading wicket-taker in the 2023-25 WTC cycle.

01.  Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is rightly the No. 1 bowler in the world and is in a class of his own. Although people talk about his workload, it does not take away from what he has done and will do. In recent years, Bumrah has become a new, better version of himself, performing at his best in all conditions. In the last WTC cycle, he took 77 wickets in 15 matches with an amazing average of just 15.06.

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<![CDATA[WATCH: Matt Henry's last over brilliance seals Tri-Series Final win for New Zealand over South Africa]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/watch-matt-henry-s-last-over-brilliance-seals-tri-series-final-win-for-new-zealand-over-south-africa/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/watch-matt-henry-s-last-over-brilliance-seals-tri-series-final-win-for-new-zealand-over-south-africa/ Sat, 26 Jul 2025 22:08:15 GMT

Out of the limelight, New Zealand pacer Matt Henry delivered a brilliant over, defending 7 runs in the very last over of the match against South Africa in the final of the Tri-Nation series in Zimbabwe. While most of the focus was on Old Trafford, Manchester, where India and England were engaged in a tough battle, New Zealand was up against New Zealand in the final of the T20I Tri-Nation series hosted by Zimbabwe.

Batting first, New Zealand put 180 runs on the scoreboard, an appropriate total to put up a sustainable fight. Throughout the series, NZ was in phenomenal form, and the other finalists, South Africa, had to taste defeat against them. For valid reasons, the Blackcaps started the game as the favorite to win.

South Africa's opening pair intensified the game from the beginning of the second innings. But the main part of the final was yet to arrive, which was the last over, where Mat Henry's clinical bowling and a couple of mind-blowing catches decided the destiny of the contest. SA needed only 7 runs in that over to win the final. Well-recognized T20 batters like Dewald Brevis and Corbin Bosch were on the crease.

Read More: Captains with century and 5-wicket haul in same Test match ft Ben Stokes

Thus, New Zealand won the final vs South Africa 

Henry started off the over with a surprising short delivery, which resulted in a dot ball. South Africa then had to score 7 off 5. In the next delivery, Michael Bracewell pulled out a stunning catch by using his presence of mind, right on the edge of the boundary rope. Brevis had to depart. In the next couple of deliveries, SA snatched 3 more runs and kept their hopes alive until Daryl Mitchell, inches away from the boundary line, took a running athletic catch to dismiss George Linde.

A big shot in the final delivery could save the match for South Africa. But, under pressure, it was only a dot ball from Matt Henry. New Zealand won the series; heartbroken for South Africa. 

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<![CDATA[Zimbabwe T20I Tri Series 2025: NZ vs SA Prediction– Final, Who will win today?]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/match-predictions/zimbabwe-t20i-tri-series-2025-nz-vs-sa-prediction-final-who-will-win-today/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/match-predictions/zimbabwe-t20i-tri-series-2025-nz-vs-sa-prediction-final-who-will-win-today/ Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:46:20 GMT

 

New Zealand won all their matches and currently lead the points table with eight points. On the other hand, South Africa have secured two victories and currently hold the second position in the points table with four points.

In their last head-to-head match, New Zealand defeated South Africa by seven wickets, successfully chasing down the target of 135 runs. Tim Seifert was the standout performer for New Zealand, scoring 66 runs off 48 balls.

NZ vs SA Match Details

Date: July 26th, 2025

Time: 4:30 PM IST

Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

ZIM vs NZ Weather Report

Clear weather 

Also Read: ECS T10 Stockholm 2025: MAR vs ALZ Prediction– Match 13, Who will win today?

Top Batters NZ vs SA

  • Tim Seifert (NZ) - 166 runs in this series 

  • Rubin Harmann (SA) - 119 runs in this series 

  • Dewald Brevis (SA) - 102 runs this series 

Top Bowler NZ vs SA

  • Matt Henry (NZ) - 6 wickets in this series 

  • Jacob Duffy (NZ) - 5 wickets in this series 

  • Ish Sodhi (NZ) - 6 wickets in this series 

NZ vs SA Recent Performance

ZIM

L

W

L

W

W

NZ

W

W

W

W

W

NZ vs SA Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If NZ bats first

  • First Innings score prediction- NZ is expected to score 165-175 runs

  • Result prediction- NZ will win the match by 30-45 Runs 

Scenario 2- If SA bats first

  • First Innings score prediction- SA is expected to score 135-145 runs.

  • Result prediction- NZ will win the match by 6 wickets 

NZ vs SA Predicted Playing XI

South Africa (SA) Playing XI 

Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, Dewald Brevis, Lhuan dre Pretorius, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch, Nqabayomzi Peter, Lungisani Ngidi, Nandre Burger

New Zealand (NZ) Playing XI

Mitchell Santner (c), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert (wk), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, William O'Rourke, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy

NZ vs SA Complete Squad

New Zealand - 

Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi

South Africa -

Rassie van der Dussen (C), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Andile Simelane

NZ vs SA Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

New Zealand To win

We predict that New Zealand will be winning this T20I match. The likes of Matt Henry, Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra will be key players to watch out for.

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<![CDATA[Zimbabwe T20I Tri Series 2025: NZ vs SA Prediction– Match 5, Who will win today?]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/match-predictions/zimbabwe-t20i-tri-series-2025-nz-vs-sa-prediction-match-5-who-will-win-today/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/match-predictions/zimbabwe-t20i-tri-series-2025-nz-vs-sa-prediction-match-5-who-will-win-today/ Tue, 22 Jul 2025 08:13:36 GMT

New Zealand won their both matches and currently lead the points table with four points. They won their last match by eight wickets against Zimbabwe, successfully chasing down the target of 121 runs in the 14th overs.

On the other hand, Rassie van der Dussen, and his men performed clinically in the last game against Zimbabwe. The team that had lost the previous game against New Zealand made the necessary corrections to win the last game by 7 wickets. They have a strong batting lineup and will look to leverage it and advance to the next round. 

NZ vs SA Match Details

Date: July 22nd, 2025

Time: 4:30 PM IST

Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

NZ vs SA Weather Report

Clear weather 

Also Read: WCL 2025: EDC vs AAC Prediction– Match 3, Who will win today?

Top Batters NZ vs SA

  • Rubin Harman (SA) - 109 runs in this series 

  • Dewald Brevis (SA) - 89 runs in this series 

  • Tim Robinson (NZ) - 75 runs this series 

Top Bowler NZ vs SA

  • Matt Henry (NZ) - 6 wickets in this series 

  • Jacob Duffy (NZ) - 3 wickets in this series 

  • Lungi Ngidi (SA) - 3 wickets in this series 

NZ vs SA Recent Performance

SA

W

L

W

W

W

NZ

W

W

W

W

L

NZ vs SA Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If NZ bats first

  • First Innings score prediction- NZ is expected to score 165-175 runs

  • Result prediction- NZ will win the match by 20-25 Runs 

Scenario 2- If SA bats first

  • First Innings score prediction- SA is expected to score 140-50 runs.

  • Result prediction- NZ will win the match by 6 wickets 

NZ vs SA Predicted Playing XI

South Africa (SA) Playing XI 

Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, Senuran Muthusamy, Rassie van der Dussen (c), Dewald Brevis, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy

New Zealand (NZ) Playing XI

Mitchell Santner (c), Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy

NZ vs SA Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

New Zealand To win

We predict that New Zealand will be winning this T20I match. The likes of Matt Henry, Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra will be key players to watch out for.

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<![CDATA[English T20 Blast: KET vs SOM Prediction– Match 99, Who will win today?]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/match-predictions/english-t20-blast-ket-vs-som-prediction-match-99-who-will-win-today/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/match-predictions/english-t20-blast-ket-vs-som-prediction-match-99-who-will-win-today/ Fri, 11 Jul 2025 17:04:54 GMT

Somerset had an excellent tournament so far, winning nine out of eleven matches and currently lead the points table with 36 points. They won their last match by 95 runs against Essex.

On the other hand, Kent have secured five victories and currently stand in sixth position in the points table with 22 points. They won their last match by 2 wickets against Sussex.

KET vs SOM Match Details

Date: July 11th, 2025

Time: 11:00 PM IST

Venue: St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury

Live Streaming: Fancode  

KET vs SOM Weather Report

Clear weather and a nice evening are expected for the game.

Also Read: English T20 Blast: MID vs GLO Prediction– Match 97, Who will win today?

Top Batters KET vs SOM

  • Will Smeed (SOM) - 428 runs in this tournament

  • Tawanda Muyeye (KET) - 377 runs in this tournament

  • Daniel Bell Drummond (KET) - 348 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowler KET vs SOM

  • Riley Meredith (SOM) - 24 wickets in this tournament 

  • Matt Henry (SOM) - 16 wickets in this tournament

  • Tom Stewart (KET) - 12 wickets in this tournament

KET vs SOM Recent Performance

Kent

      W

      L

        L

        W

      L

Somerset 

      W

      W

        L

        W

      W

KET vs SOM Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If KET bats first

  • First Innings score prediction- KET is expected to score 160-175 runs

  • Result prediction- SOM will win the match by 7 Wickets.

Scenario 2- If SOM bats first

  • First Innings score prediction- SOM is expected to score 185-200 runs.

  • Result prediction- SOM will win the match by 25-30 Runs

KET vs SOM Predicted Playing XI

Kent (KET) Playing XI 

T Muyeye, Joe Denly, Harry Finch, Daniel Bell Drummond, Sam Billings, Benjamin, Joey Evinson, Jack Leaning, Tom Rogers, Fred Klassen, Nathan Glichrist.

Somerset (SOM) Playing XI

Will Smeed, Sean Dickson, Ben Green, Tom Banton, Tom Abell, Tom Kohlmore, Ben Goldsworthy, Riley Meredith, Matt Henry, Lewis Gregory, Craig Overton.

KET vs SOM Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

Somerset To win

We predict that Somerset will be winning this English T20 Blast match. The likes of Will Smeed,  Riley Meredith and Matt Henry will be key players to watch out for.

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<![CDATA[ICC Reveals the Champions Trophy 2025 Team of the Tournament]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/icc-reveals-the-champions-trophy-2025-team-of-the-tournament/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/icc-reveals-the-champions-trophy-2025-team-of-the-tournament/ Mon, 10 Mar 2025 22:05:00 GMT

Indian Team lifted the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after defeating New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Stadium. The tournament was played in a hybrid format India’s matches, including the semifinal and final, were held in Dubai, while the rest of the games took place in Pakistan across Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, the ICC picked Mitchell Santner as the captain of their Team of the Tournament for his brilliant captaincy in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Pakistan, the defending champions and hosts, had a tough time in the tournament, failing to win a single game. They lost their first two matches to New Zealand and India, while their last group-stage game against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain. Pakistan has a tough time in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

ALSO READ: Top 5 Indian Cricketers Who Love Being Social Media Influencers

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Team of the Tournament

  1. Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)
    Rachin Ravindra had an outstanding tournament, scoring 251 runs at an average of 62.75, including two centuries. His brilliant performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award.

  2. Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan)
    Ibrahim Zadran was Afghanistan’s standout batter, scoring 216 runs at an average of 72, including a century. Unfortunately, Afghanistan’s journey ended early after their last group-stage match against Australia was washed out.

  3. Virat Kohli (India)
    Virat Kohli once again showed his class, scoring an unbeaten century against Pakistan. He finished the tournament with 218 runs at an average of 54.5.

  4. Shreyas Iyer (India)
    Shreyas Iyer was solid in India’s middle order, scoring 243 runs at an average of 48.6, with two crucial fifties and helping India to win the Crucial final against New Zealand.

  5. KL Rahul (wk) (India)
    KL Rahul made valuable contributions both with the bat and behind the stumps. He scored 140 runs at an incredible average of 140, with his highest score being 42*. His unbeaten knock in the final against New Zealand played a big role in India’s victory.

  6. Glenn Phillips (New Zealand)
    Glenn Phillips was one of the best fielders in the tournament, taking five catches. He also contributed with the bat, scoring 177 runs at an average of 59, and even took two wickets.

  7. Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan)
    Azmatullah Omarzai was impressive with both bat and ball. He scored 126 runs at an average of 42 and picked up seven wickets, including a brilliant five-wicket haul.

  1. Mitchell Santner (c) (New Zealand)
    Mitchell Santner was chosen as the captain after leading New Zealand to the final. He had a solid tournament with the ball, taking nine wickets at an average of 26.6 and an economy rate of 4.80.

  2. Mohammed Shami (India)
    Mohammed Shami played a key role in India's bowling attack, picking up nine wickets in the tournament. He made a strong start with a five-wicket haul in India's opening match against Bangladesh.

  3. Matt Henry (New Zealand)
    Matt Henry was one of the standout bowlers of the tournament, taking 10 wickets at an average of 16.7 with an economy of 5.32. Unfortunately, he was ruled out of the final beacuse of injury.

  4. Varun Chakaravarthy (India)
    Varun Chakaravarthy was one of the brilliant spinners in the tournament. He picked up nine wickets at an average of 15.1 while keeping his economy rate at just 4.53.

    12: Axar Patel (India)
          Axar Patel was among the top all-rounders in the tournament. He took five wickets at an average of 39.2 with an economy of 4.35. He also made valuable                contributions with the bat, scoring 109 runs, including a crucial 29-run knock in the final in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

ICC squad of Champions Trophy

Rachin Ravindra, Ibrahim Zadran, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Glenn Phillips, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mitchell Santner (c), Mohammed Shami, Matt Henry, Varun Chakaravarthy, 12th player: Axar Patel

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<![CDATA[Watch: Matt Henry crying after missing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/matt-henry-crying-after-missing-icc-champions-trophy-2025-final/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/matt-henry-crying-after-missing-icc-champions-trophy-2025-final/ Sun, 09 Mar 2025 16:28:40 GMT

India and New Zealand are battling in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final, but the leading wicket-taker of the tournament Matt Henry missed out on the Final due to injury, which brought tears to his eyes after learning his fitness test failure.  

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Matt Henry picked up 10 wickets

The 33-year-old New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry is the leading wicket-taker in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, at least before the Final of the tournament, as the right-arm pacer picked up 10 wickets in four games. Henry took wickets in all matches of the tournament, while he was the star for the Blackcaps during the India vs New Zealand Group A match of the tournament. Dubai International Cricket Stadium hosted that match where Henry claimed a fifer to restrict India to 249 runs. Although New Zealand lost that match by 44 runs, Henry's performance was praised by experts. 

Henry took two wickets against Pakistan and one wicket against Bangladesh in the other matches of the group stage. In the high-scoring Semi-final against South Africa, Henry bagged two wickets, as he had the bowling figures of 7-0-43-2 on the tough bowling pitch. However, Henry sustained a shoulder injury during the Semi-final of the tournament while he was catching to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen. While he was hugely doubtful for the Final, it was confirmed on Sunday just before the toss as he failed the fitness test. Despite trying his best, Henry didn't have the luck to play in the Final.  

See Also: Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal Spotted with Mystery Women During IND vs NZ Match

Matt Henry was crying

After knowing that miss the Final, Henry was seen crying. Surely, it was heartbreaking for anyone, while he was one of the most important bowlers for the Blackcaps. Meanwhile, it could be some relief for India.

 

 

 

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<![CDATA[Good News for India: Matt Henry Ruled Out of ICC Champions Trophy Final]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/good-news-for-india-matt-henry-ruled-out-of-icc-champions-trophy-final/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/good-news-for-india-matt-henry-ruled-out-of-icc-champions-trophy-final/ Sun, 09 Mar 2025 14:23:57 GMT

New Zealand has been dealt a huge blow before the ICC Champions Trophy final against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Their main fast bowler, Matt Henry, has been sidelined with a shoulder injury he sustained during the semifinal against South Africa.

Henry was injured while attempting a catch to get Heinrich Klaasen out in South Africa's pursuit of 363 in Lahore. He landed awkwardly and had to retire from the field but came back to bowl two additional overs. But he won't be fit for the last match. Nathan Smith has been appointed as his replacement.

Henry has been New Zealand's top bowler in the tournament, topping the wicket table with 10 wickets from four games at a rate of 16.70. He also bowled well against India in the group stage, taking five wickets for 42 runs, though New Zealand lost that game.

ALSO SEE: Rags to Riches: IPL Stars Who Changed Their Fate

With Henry gone, New Zealand's bowling unit will have to rise to the occasion against India's formidable batting order. His absence is a huge boon for India, as he was one of the Kiwis' main bowlers.

Cricket enthusiasts are eagerly waiting for the final, which is going to be an exciting encounter. Watch this space for live updates on the IND vs. NZ match.

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<![CDATA[Matt Henry’s Final Spot in Doubt – Major Setback for New Zealand!]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/matt-henry-s-final-spot-in-doubt-major-setback-for-new-zealand/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/matt-henry-s-final-spot-in-doubt-major-setback-for-new-zealand/ Fri, 07 Mar 2025 19:13:47 GMT

As the excitement mounts for the much-hyped Champions Trophy final between New Zealand and India, there has been concern about the availability of New Zealand star pacer Matt Henry. According to ESPNcricinfo reports, Henry's availability for the final is doubtful, which raises alarm for the Black Caps on the eve of a key showdown.

Why Matt Henry Is Important to New Zealand

Henry has been a key figure in New Zealand's march to the final, constantly delivering under the ball in situations of high pressure. His potential to swing both ways and vex top-order batsmen makes him a vital addition, particularly against a formidable Indian batting unit consisting of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill.

If Henry is excluded, New Zealand's bowling line-up might miss a crucial weapon, and the team management will have to rethink their plans. His run-stopping ability and wicket-taking skills during the powerplay and middle overs have been critical for New Zealand in big ICC events.

Also See : Few Of The Indian Superstars May Lose Their A+ Central Contracts

New Zealand's Likely Substitutes for Henry

New Zealand has a couple of alternatives to substitute Henry if he misses the final:

  • Kyle Jamieson – Offers height and bounce but has struggled with consistency.
  • Lockie Ferguson – Provides express pace but can be costly.
  • Additional spinner – Depending on the conditions of the pitch, another option for a spinner may be an option.

None of these, however, offer the same control and dependability that Henry offers, so his possible absence remains a major concern.

Why India Benefits If Henry Misses Out:

  • India's openers (Rohit Sharma & Shubman Gill) have trouble with early swing.
  • Middle-order solidity (Shreyas Iyer & KL Rahul) can overwhelm an inexperienced bowling lineup.
  • Power-hitters (Hardik Pandya & Ravindra Jadeja) can take advantage of the lack of a quality third pacer.

Trent Boult and Tim Southee are still with New Zealand, but their bowling might become flat if Henry leaves.

Waiting for Official Confirmation

However, New Zealand's camp has not yet confirmed Henry's status.  Both sides' pre-match strategy will be impacted by the choice.

The 2025 Champions Trophy Final looks to be a thrilling contest. However, the potential participation of Matt Henry could throw a wrench in the works. If he opts not to play, New Zealand will have to change their bowling strategies, which puts India in a favorable position.

Also See : Few Of The Indian Superstars May Lose Their A+ Central Contracts

 

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<![CDATA[Watch: Matt Henry rewinds the clock to recreate a Suryakumar-esque WC final catch]]> https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/matt-henry-rewinds-the-clock-to-recreate-a-suryakumar-esque-wc-final-catch/ https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/matt-henry-rewinds-the-clock-to-recreate-a-suryakumar-esque-wc-final-catch/ Sat, 11 Jan 2025 12:06:12 GMT

During the third and final ODI match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, New Zealand paceman Matt Henry pulls off a near-impossible catch at the long-off boundary to dismiss Charith Asalanka of Sri Lanka for a five-ball duck. While doing so, he also managed to recreate the stunning catch Suryakumar Yadav took to deliver India their second T20 World Cup title. 

See also:

Matt Henry's brilliance on the field lifts the Black Caps up

The incident unfolded during the 30th over of the Lankan innings. Charith Asalanka was facing up to Doug Bracewell from round the wicket. While stilling batting on 0, Asalanka made up his mind to take the aggressive route. But as fate would have it, Asalanka did not succeed in his mission and subsequently holed out to Henry at long-on.

During the second ball of the 30th over, Asalanka used his feet to charge down the wicket. For a moment, it looked like he hit it cleanly. The ball was destined to go over the ropes but Henry had other ideas. Henry covered good ground to his right and completed the catch before releasing it up in the air. He briefly went over the ropes while the ball was airborne but got himself back on the field of play just in the nick of time to complete a brilliant catch thus recreating the Suryakumar-esque catch from the the T20 WC Final.

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Current state of the match

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and Janith Liyanage notched up well-compiled fifties to drive Sri Lanka to a respectable total of 290. In response, more than half of New Zealand's batting order was dismantled as the hosts found themselves reeling at 48-6 by the end of the 13th over. At the time of writing, New Zealand had only four wickets in hand and required 219 runs to chase in the remaining 33 overs.

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