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Cricket World Player of the Week - Matt Henry

©CWM

Matt Henry's record-breaking figures of 7/23 in the first Test of the New Zealand-South Africa series took the home side to a massive victory by an innings and 276 runs.

Matt Henry is one of the most underrated pace bowlers that New Zealand have.

Given that he is quite low down the pecking order with the likes of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner and Kyle Jamieson given preference over him in red-ball cricket, he is hardly able to get a consistent run.

In fact, since making his Test debut in May 2015, Henry has played in only 15 of the 55 Test matches for New Zealand. To be honest, his numbers don't jump up at you either.

That said, he has had some impact performances in both red-ball cricket and white-ball cricket, including the knockouts of the World Cup.

Henry registered his best figures of 7/23 - the third-best figures by a New Zealand bowler in Test cricket behind Ajaz Patel and Richard Hadley - as he broke the back of the South African batting line-up to skittle them out for just 95 from where there was no coming back.

'You pinch yourself when you hear those stats,' an elated Henry said after receiving the Player of the Match award following New Zealand's impressive win by an innings and 276 runs.

If the medium pacer even bowls half of what he did in the first Test match, New Zealand are certain to bag the series.

Matt Henry now! Draws the edge just outside off stump and Dean Elgar goes for 0 late on Day 2. Follow play LIVE with @sparknzsport. #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/H8aSKfXu7h
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 18, 2022