Everyone knows how settled the Blackcaps bowling group is in Test and ODI cricket and unfortunately for Matt Henry, he has settled on the fringes of the Blackcaps. Henry has consistently featured in Blackcaps squads, but hasn't quite been able to go a few steps further and bust down the 1st 11 door, demanding regular selection.

That's the backdrop and to some extent, the ever-changing bowling units in ODI cricket via Lesson ensured that Henry would be in and out of the Blackcaps ODI team. This also impacted a number of other bowlers who were unable to gain repetitions at the international level and for Henry, this was largely his only opportunity as the Test bowling group is viewed as royalty.

Times are changing though. While most of the Blackcaps bowlers are either training in Aotearoa or playing in T20 competitions around the world, Henry has been playing County cricket for Kent. All you need to know about Henry's winter in England is that he is currently the best bowler across either Division One or Two and his dominance makes up for the fact that he is bowling in Div Two; there's a slight difference in quality, not huge though.

This is Henry's stat-line for the County season so far:

9 games, 17inns, 311.1 overs, 62 wickets, 15.29avg, 3.04rpo, 5 x 5w, 3 x 10w.

New Zealand International Fast Bowler Matt Henry Took 11 Wickets for his County side Kent against Northamptonshire in a County Championship Division TWO Match.

Nek level. Like, the definition of nek level. Henry has blown up County cricket and perhaps at the perfect time given that his old Canterbury coach Gary Stead is now the Blackcaps coach. This forms the seed of an idea that I'm low key very interested in as there are a bunch of cricketers who could be impacted by Stead coming straight out of the Canterbury system; this would impact those from Canterbury and those who have no connection to Stead in obvious ways.

I'm a South Aucklander, so maybe it's just my Auckland vs Canterbury nature to highlight this narrative. I don't feel cynical about it though and am only intrigued by the decisions that Stead will make as he is in far better position to know what Henry can do, than Mike Hesson was. Maybe this will flow out into a Todd Astle vs Ish Sodhi conundrum as well, with Astle also enjoying a connection to Stead, based on Henry's County season though, it's all about Henry.

That settled Blackcaps bowling group is; Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Colin de Grandhomme. It's a stretch to say that Henry should be selected ahead of Boult or Wagner, regardless of how awesome Henry is bowling as the experienced duo are among the world's best Test bowlers. Southee? Well, maybe, it all depends on your personal opinion about Southee's contributions against quality opposition.

Henry is no battler with the bat either and if you went with a four-seamer attack, Henry can do a job in de Grandhomme's lower order all-rounder spot. Henry has 5 half-centuries in First Class cricket (21.82avg), a Test 50 as well (19.63avg) and has strike-rates of 100.60 (List-A) and 163.01 (T20). He's no gun batsman, but he can give it a fair whack like de Grandhomme down the order ... and he's a better bowler.

However, none of this will matter as the Blackcaps head to United Arab Emirates to play Pakistan. Conditions in the UAE aren't exactly suited to Henry's seam bowling, not like bowling in moist, green English conditions where Henry can bang it in, hit the seam and let the ball do the work. The Blackcaps will have to rely mainly on spin in UAE, hence they are going there with Ish Sodhi, Todd Astle and Ajaz Patel.

These conditions will also work in favour of the experienced seamers and de Grandhomme's dibbly-dobblers. Southee has bowled all around the world and there's no reason why he shouldn't play all the Tests. Boult is a gun and Wagner steams in all day on flat decks, while still able to bowl those bouncers. This is assuming that a spinner doesn't take the place of a seamer, which is very likely to happen; no room for Henry.

This makes the kiwi summer extremely important for Henry as he'll have to snap up any opportunity he can get, in favourable conditions. Test or ODI cricket, Henry is likely to still find himself on the Blackcaps fringes at the start of the summer and some of this will be up to Henry and how he responds, while the rest will be up to the cricketing gods and what opportunities they bring Henry's way.

Right now though, Henry's an absolute monster in England. His numbers could stack up even more as the County season wraps up and then Henry will need to continue his fine work, either with Canterbury in Plunket Shield cricket and/or on tour with the Blackcaps. That settled bowling group is under threat though and this could all be a appetizer for the summer of Henry.

Hit an ad to support the kiwi cricket yarns.

Or jump on Patreon and support the Niche Cache directly, we drop bonus stuff for the Patrons and take care of the homies.

Peace and love 27.