Matt Henry: A Complete Profile of the New Zealand Cricket Star and His Streak of Brilliant Achievements

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Matthew James Henry, a right-arm fast-medium bowler from New Zealand, has made a name for himself as one of the most influential cricketers in the world.

Born in Christchurch, Canterbury, on December 14, 1991, Henry made his international debut in 2014 and has since become a key player for the New Zealand Black Caps national team.

His career has been marked by consistency and exceptional wicket-taking ability, making him a serious threat to any opposing team.

Throughout his career, Matt Henry has demonstrated consistent and consistently improving performances, both domestically and internationally.

He is known for his accuracy and pace, often troubling batsmen.

His contributions have helped New Zealand achieve several significant achievements, including being part of the ICC World Test Championship-winning squad.

The year 2025 marked the culmination of recognition for his dedication, when he was awarded the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal, New Zealand's highest male cricket award.

This award affirmed his position as a key player who continues to make a significant impact on the field, both through his individual performances and his contributions to team victories.

2023 and 2025 were particularly productive years for Matt Henry.

In February 2023, he joined Somerset and had a highly successful season, becoming the top wicket-taker and securing Somerset's first T20 title since 2005. This success demonstrated his adaptability and dominance across formats.

In May 2024, Matt Henry was re-instated in the New Zealand squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, cementing his position as one of the team's first-choice bowlers.

To top it off, on April 9, 2025, he was awarded the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal, New Zealand cricket's highest honour, in recognition of his outstanding performances.

He was also named Test and ODI Player of the Year and won the Winsor Cup for men's first-class bowling.

Matt Henry's exploits continued into July 2025.

On July 27, he became New Zealand's hero in the T20 Tri-Series final in Harare, securing a narrow 3-run victory over South Africa thanks to a composed performance in the final over.

He conceded just three runs and finished with figures of 2/19.Just three days later, on July 30, Henry shone again, taking six wickets (6/39) in the first Test against Zimbabwe, his fifth five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

With this achievement, he surpassed Mitchell Santner and Kyle Mills, becoming the sixth-highest wicket-taker of all time in international cricket for New Zealand.

Matt Henry, also known as Matthew James Henry, began his professional cricket career with the Canterbury team in the 2010/11 season.

A right-arm fast-medium bowler, he quickly attracted attention for his ability to control the ball and produce unpredictable shots.

His consistency at the domestic level paved the way for him to break into the national team.

Matt Henry's international debut came on January 31, 2014, in an ODI match against India.

He then made his T20I debut on December 4, 2014, against Pakistan, and his Test debut on May 21, 2015, against England.

Since then, he has been a regular member of the New Zealand squad, participating in various prestigious tournaments around the world.

In addition to playing for the national team, Henry also has extensive experience in various domestic and T20 leagues around the world.

He has represented teams such as Worcestershire, Kings XI Punjab, Derbyshire, Kent, Somerset, Welsh Fire, and Lucknow Super Giants.

His experience playing in a variety of conditions and against a diverse range of opponents has enriched his bowling skills.

Matt Henry has amassed a string of impressive achievements throughout his international career.

He was an integral part of the New Zealand team that won the 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship, a historic achievement for New Zealand cricket.

His contributions in the Test format were crucial in leading the team to this prestigious title.

Furthermore, Henry was also part of the Black Caps squad that reached back-to-back Cricket World Cup finals in 2015 and 2019, but finished as runners-up.

In the 2019 World Cup semifinal against India, he delivered a stellar performance, taking three wickets for 37 runs, which earned him the Man of the Match award.

This demonstrated his ability to perform at his best under pressure.

In February 2022, Matt Henry achieved a significant personal milestone by taking his first five wickets in Test cricket, with figures of 7/23, against South Africa.

It didn't stop there, on April 14, 2023, he scored a hat-trick in a T20I match, making him the fourth New Zealand cricketer to achieve the feat.