Aotearoa's low key seamer Matt Henry was forced out of the ODI series vs West Indies via injury after Henry only played three ODIs against Ireland. Henry was also deployed for just one Test against England as the Blackcaps flowed through various Test combinations and while this all feels like a bummer for the steady Cantabrian, Henry enjoyed another bountiful winter gathering wickets.

Henry has taken at least 1 wicket in 15 consecutive innings. This includes Henry's winter in Europe where he took wickets in tour games vs Sussex and a County Championship selection, then a wicket in either innings of his lone Test appearance. Wickets in all three ODIs vs Ireland followed and Henry then did what he always does in dominating County Championship cricket with Kent.

Finishing with 12w @ 18.83avg, Henry took more wickets in fewer overs than Indian seamer Navdeep Saini for Kent. Henry flexed his Kiwi County Tour mana ahead of Otago's Jacob Duffy as Duffy managed 8w @ 40avg in his two games for Kent. Henry also had a lovely time with the bat, hitting 7 sixes and 5 fours. Henry only played two games for Kent and they have played 11 games so far, yet Henry is still second for the most sixes hit for Kent this season.

Henry hasn't quite been as good as Canterbury's Will Williams, who is making the most of his permanent move to Lancashire with 23w @ 18.39avg. Williams isn't one of Aotearoa's best seam bowlers though and Henry continues to build around his best mahi in ODI cricket. Stretching back to the ODI World Cup, Henry has taken a wicket in 11 consecutive ODI games and he has quietly crept up to the fifth best ODI bowling average for all kiwi bowlers.

Trent Boult is the only current player with a better ODI bowling average and while I view Boult as the best seamer in the world, his average is only teeny weeny bit better than Henry's (25.21 vs 25.22). This is fabulous considering that Boult will now bask in the fruits of his labour and do whatever he wants to, providing more opportunities for seamers like Henry.

Tim Southee might be the key benefactor in Boult playing less ODI cricket as Henry is a world-class ODI bowler already and Lockie Ferguson (26.84avg in ODIs) is a world-class white ball bowler. Henry will probably enjoy more Test overs to go with his continued excellence in ODI cricket and he may even add to his six T20I games.

Here's a round up of what Henry has done recently...

2021/22 Plunket Shield: 21w @ 17.76avg.

2021/22 Ford Trophy: 4w @ 33.25avg.

2021/22 Super Smash: 14w @ 23.50avg.

Test Summer: 14w @ 16.14avg.

ODIs vs Netherlands: 5w @ 13.40avg.

Tour of England: 6w @ 46avg.

ODIs vs Ireland: 7w @ 24.28avg.

County Championship: 12w @ 18.83avg.

Henry averaged below 25 in all but two of those pockets. Henry still managed to gather 4w in three Ford Trophy games and his Test mahi in England is aligned with a general Blackcaps plateau. Henry also took a wicket every time he bowled in England this winter and that's the gathering vibe. Even when Henry isn't taking 9w or 5w as he did in back to back Tests vs South Africa or 6w in a Test vs England last year, he gathers wickets; Henry has taken a wicket in 15 of his 17 Tests.

For a bloke who has made sporadic Test appearances, Henry's reliability is impressive. Those appearances should increase with Boult picking his spots which coincides with 2022 being Henry's best year of Test bowling, as well as his ODI wizardry. Henry may not be available for an ODI series against Australia in a few weeks, although his departure from the Blackcaps squad may have come to ensure his availability to play in Australia. Henry is unlikely to crack the T20 World Cup squad but isn't a bad option if depth is tested.

Blackcaps culture is brewed by lads like Henry as they patiently wait for opportunities, always hunt improvements to ensure readiness and do whatever the team requires. However Henry gets his next opportunity to gather wickets, he will probably gather wickets into his baggy and play his role perfectly.

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Peace and love.