Matt Henry from New Zealand (Getty Images)
Matt Henry’s brilliant performance at The Oval not only helped New Zealand level the Test series against England but also put him alongside one of cricket’s greatest names in the stadium’s history books.The New Zealand fast bowler has become the first bowler since Shane Warne during the 2005 Ashes to take 10 or more wickets in a Test match at The Oval. He is also the first fast bowler to achieve this feat on the ground since Devon Malcolm’s memorable effort against South Africa in 1994.
Henry produced a career-defining display as New Zealand thrashed England by 253 runs to level the series and force a decider in Nottingham. His match figures of 11-109, which included 5-80 in the first innings and 6-29 in the second, were the best ever scored by a New Zealand bowler against England in Test cricket.This achievement had added significance given Henry’s difficult outing in the opening Test at Lord’s. Back spasms on the first morning severely limited the experienced seamer and left him feeling that he had not contributed as much as expected. Although he managed to pick up a wicket, he was far from his usual poignant persona.A 10-day break between Tests allowed the 34-year-old to fully recover, and he returned to The Oval with devastating effect.
England went into the final day hoping for a miracle chase, but Henry quickly extinguished those hopes. He trapped Joe Root lbw for 77, becoming the first player to dismiss both Root and Harry Brook twice in the same Test match.Then the right arm tore through the lower order.
Jofra Archer
The stumps were rattled by a delivery that stayed low, Matthew Fisher chipped onto the stumps for Henry’s 150th wicket, and Josh Tonge edged out at first slip as the paceman completed a thrilling five-wicket haul in the innings.Henry’s final morning spell resulted in figures of 5-3 in just 31 deliveries as England’s resistance collapsed in less than an hour.“We’ve come out on top repeatedly,” the New Zealand captain said
Tom Latham
He said. “Matt Henry is good at marking the target. In the first and second innings, he built pressure through dot balls and got crucial wickets. He has been the spearhead for us for a long time and it’s good for him to get results.”Since the start of 2024, Henry has emerged as one of the most effective fast bowlers in world cricket.
Having spent much of his career in the shadow of Tim Southee and Trent Boult, he has flourished as New Zealand’s pace-setter, taking 80 wickets in his last 14 Tests and compiling seven from eight five-wicket innings during that period.Reflecting on his switch from Lord’s to The Oval, Henry admitted the first Test was frustrating.“It feels bad when the players are let down on the first day,” he said. “It was great to come here and get my share.”Henry also credited the wicket-keeper
Tom Blundell
For his role behind the stumps, particularly in standing up to the wicket and helping to keep the English batsmen unsure of their movements.“Having a world-class operator like Tom is huge,” Henry said. “He’s always up for it. You can only do that if you have a good guy behind the stumps. We know England like to create a flow of runs.”The pacer was equally quick to praise the New Zealand bowling unit as a whole.“It’s very easy to have a strong bowling line-up. Kyle (Jamieson) and Will (O’Rourke) are coming back from injuries, their character is back to where it was. Nathan Smith is going from strength to strength. You’re only as good as the strength of the group.”For Henry, The Oval will now hold a special place in his career. More than two decades after Warne’s famous Ashes performance, the New Zealand seamer has etched his name in the history of the stadium with a spell that ranks among the best ever used by a visiting bowler in England.