Matt Henry is a bustling right-arm pacer known for his pace, bounce, and ability to generate seam movement off the pitch. Hailing from Canterbury , Henry drew early comparisons to former New Zealand speedster Shane Bond —not just for his express pace, but also for his injury struggles. His career only began to take shape following a significant back surgery in 2012 . Henry made an immediate impact on the international stage with a memorable ODI debut against India, taking 4 for 38 to help seal a series victory. A few months later, he was picked up by Chennai Super Kings in the 2014 Indian Premier League auction. Though initially left out of the final squad for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup , Henry was called in as a replacement for the injured Adam Milne during the semi-final against South Africa and featured in the final against Australia . While Henry has played across all formats for New Zealand, he has been most effective in white-ball cricket , consistently providing breakthroughs with the new ball. His standout performances include a key role in New Zealand’s 2016 Chappell-Hadlee series win at home , where he bowled with venom and accuracy. Though he faced challenges during the return series in Australia, Henry has produced numerous impactful spells in ODIs and T20Is. What sets Henry apart is his ability to extract seam movement at pace , in contrast to many of his Kiwi counterparts who traditionally rely more on swing. Despite managing his speeds due to recurring injuries, he remains capable of delivering heavy balls and moving the ball both ways , making him a valuable asset in New Zealand’s pace attack.
