2023 ODI World Cup - New Zealand's Matt Henry among the best, and has got better - the numbers show it

4 matches into this 2023 ODI World Cup, Matt Henry has 9 wickets at a mean of 18, and an financial system price of 4.84. This leaves him sandwiched between Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Shah Afridi (who additionally has 9) – two of the largest names in quick bowling.

Henry, 31, made his ODI debut in 2014, earlier than Bumrah, and lengthy earlier than Afridi. His common of 25.67 and financial system price of 5.15, is broadly within the neighborhood of Bumrah (23.52 and 4.61) and Afridi (23.17 and 5.50).

Is he near being amongst ODI seam bowling’s greatest names, then?

Uhhh.

Prime ten?

Eeeish.

Has he performed in two ODI World Cup finals – two greater than Bumrah or Afridi have appeared in? Oh wow.

Henry slides low, partly, you observed, by design. No branded celebrations right here, no dazzling actions, the limelight is okay approach over there, thanks. He has been celebration to New Zealand’s best cricketing period in addition to their best fast-bowling years (intently linked phenomena, obvs), however has not recognized the recognition that Trent Boult and Tim Southee take pleasure in, not bowled with the hearth that Neil Wagner hails from the skies, and never had the open-mouthed gasping over pure tempo that Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne earlier than him have had.

Henry is a seam bowler from New Zealand’s nice 2010s and early 2020s, however looks like a New Zealand seam bowler from the 2000s. Which is to say, aww nicely, y’know, he runs in each ball, bungs it down on a great size, and will get the brand new cherry to maneuver within the air fairly a bit and, oh, perhaps he is fairly good on his day do not you are concerned. Typically he has been the spare broom within the closet – the seamer New Zealand attain for when the higher-profile bowlers are unavailable.

Over the previous few years, nonetheless, he has received a spot within the beginning XI, displacing the likes of Southee, via sheer consistency of efficiency.

Because the 2015 World Cup, solely Boult has a greater ODI common amongst bowlers with 35 or extra wickets within the opening 10 overs. In that powerplay, and roughly the final eight-and-a-bit years, Henry averages 21.13, with 59 wickets and an financial system price of 4.19.

Matt Henry has always been good with the new ball, but in this World Cup he's striking in the middle as well

Matt Henry has all the time been good with the brand new ball, however on this World Cup he is placing within the center as nicely•AFP/Getty Pictures

India will bear in mind him from the semi-final at Outdated Trafford 4 years in the past. On as drizzly and depressing a Manchester morning that also allowed cricket might be imagined, Henry moved one away deliciously late to Rohit Sharma and took his edge, did nearly the identical factor to KL Rahul, and had Dinesh Karthik caught at backward level. This was all within the first 10, which as we all know, Henry dominates.

He was much less spectacular when the swing disappeared, however even exterior of Outdated Trafford, this has been the theme of his profession. Because the begin of the 2019 World Cup, his common via the center overs (between the eleventh, and fortieth over), Henry’s common rises to 37.50.

Sure, it’s spinners who’re anticipated to take wickets throughout this section, however simply to place Henry’s numbers in context, his common is worse than that of uninspiring dobblies retailers resembling Dasun Shanaka and Colin de Grandhomme, but additionally Shardul Thakur who, by the best way, is crushing this class, averaging 23.21 throughout the center, which maybe helps clarify his ongoing inclusion.

Even on the dying, Henry has been modest. He is had a worse financial system price than South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo, or West Indies quicks resembling Sheldon Cottrell or Alzarri Joseph, whose crew in fact didn’t make this World Cup.

However on this World Cup there was an upending. Henry has been menacing when he has bowled early, certain. However within the center and the dying – that is the place he has shined. If shining is not precisely Henry’s vibe, then glowed.

Some highlights embody the large wicket of Jos Buttler within the thirty fourth over of New Zealand’s event opener, when Henry bought the ball to dart away a spark off the deck. In opposition to Mushfiqur Rahim two video games later, he bowled a slower one which deceived a supremely skilled batter, and rattled his stumps. This was in over 36.

After which in opposition to Netherlands, two of his wickets got here on the dying.

Of his 9 wickets on this World Cup thus far, six have come after the thirty third over. And he’s about to bowl in opposition to India at a venue at which seamers are inclined to prosper even exterior the primary 10, through which Henry is a specialist. In 14 ODI innings in Dharamsala, seamers have taken 69 wickets at a mean of 27.66.

New Zealand, the one different crew thus far to go unbeaten other than India, have loads going for them exterior of Matt Henry. However for as soon as, it’s unimaginable to disregard that Matt Henry has been instrumental to their advance.

Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf

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