New Zealand’s Matt Henry grew up idolising his townmate Shane Bond, and just like Bond, Henry is fiery, quick, and accurate, but also has the Bond-esque trait with injuries. Hailing from Christchurch, Henry came late to the international arena in 2014 and ran through the Indian batting line-up at Wellington. 

Born in 1991, the seamer plays for Canterbury at the domestic level. He made his first-class debut back in the 2010-11 season. The national selectors saw his instant growth and fast-tracked him as a budding talent, but an acute back surgery in 2012 delayed the Christchurch-born’s debut. 

Matt Henry's ODI Career

Matt Henry made his international debut through the ODI format in January 2014, and he started with a four-for against the Indians. Later in the season, he bagged another four-wicket haul against Pakistan at Sharjah and followed it up with a fifer at Abu Dhabi. However, he wasn’t picked in the initial 15-man squad for the 2015 World Cup, but an injury to Adam Milne meant Henry was named the replacement. 

The seamer played two games in the 2015 tournament, taking two wickets. Four years later, he was the fulcrum of the Kiwi pace-battery during the 50-over WC, held in England. Henry took 14 wickets, including the best of 4 for 47 against Bangladesh. 

However, the Champagne-opening performance came during the semi-final, when the Kiwi pacer once again troubled the Indians. He took three for 37 and bagged wickets of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Dinesh Karthik, which bagged him the Player of the Match award. 

With that, he helped New Zealand to the Lord’s for a heart-wrenching final against England. 

Since the 2019 World Cup, Henry has been with the New Zealand team, but his selection in the XI hasn’t been regular due to the truckload of talent in the team.

In the coveted tournament, Matt Henry took 3-37, dominating with the new ball in New Zealand’s semi-final game against India. His scalps included the key wickets of both India openers, setting the course for a famous victory for the Blackcaps. 

Matt Henry’s T20I Career

6 feet 2 inches tall, Matt Henry made his T20I debut for New Zealand against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates on 4 December 2014.  

On December 5, 2014, Henry claimed his maiden T20I wicket, dismissing Pakistan’s Haris Sohail, in his very second T20I. 

The Kiwi pacer claimed his first-ever T20 three-fer against Sri Lanka in January 2016, scalping the wickets of Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, and Thisara Perera. 

In April 2023, in Lahore, Matt Henry achieved a T20I hat-trick against Pakistan, dismissing Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Shaheen Afridi across two overs (13th and 18th), finishing with figures of 3/32 to become the fourth New Zealand player to achieve this feat in men’s T20Is. 

Fast forward to February 2026, the New Zealand bowler made history in the T20 World Cup 2026 by starting the match against Sri Lanka with a maiden wicket-over, becoming the first Kiwi and only second player ever to do so in the tournament's history. Henry clean-bowled Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka on the first ball of the innings to achieve the feat. 

In 2017, the Kiwi bagged an IPL contract worth INR 5 million with Kings XI Punjab. He was also previously signed for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL between 2014 and 2015, but did not play a match for the team. He is also set to play in the IPL 2026 season with Chennai Super Kings, having previously been with them without playing. 

Matt Henry Test Career

Matt Henry made his Test debut at the Lord’s on May 21, 2015, where he took 6 wickets in the match. However, with Boult and Southee already established as the key pacers, Henry’s opportunities remained limited.

In 2022, after Boult opted out of the central contract and his appearances for New Zealand became limited to ICC events, Henry started featuring more regularly for the national team, and he did not disappoint. The 2022-23 Plunket Shield season was a standout for Henry as he finished as the leading wicket-taker for Canterbury, underlining his growing importance in New Zealand cricket.

Since then, the Canterbury fast bowler has been a permanent fixture in New Zealand’s Test squad. 

In October 2024, Matt Henry starred in the first Test of New Zealand’s tour of India, destroying India’s top order with figures of 5/15 in the first innings. His spell, combined with Will O'Rourke's 4/22, skittled India for 46, their lowest-ever Test total at home. Henry also achieved his 100th Test wicket during this match.

(As of March 2026)