Cricket: Henry homes in on Lord's debut

Matt Henry in World Cup action. Photo / Brett Phibbs

If cricketer Matt Henry was a stock on Wall St, the trading room floor might launch into a cacophony of "buy, buy, buy" ahead of New Zealand's tour of England.

The 23-year-old is in line to play the first test at Lord's this month, such is his trajectory through the national ranks.

Henry was the major victim when the 15-man World Cup squad was picked, missing out to Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Adam Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan and Kyle Mills.

However, the way he handled the initial disappointment, his subsequent Plunket Shield form and the benefits to being part of the same Indian Premier League franchise as New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum all point towards a possible test debut at 'the home of cricket'.

He was a late call-up to New Zealand's World Cup campaign when Adam Milne was injured and bowled respectable spells in the semifinal and final, including dismissing Australians David Warner and Michael Clarke at the MCG.

Henry would become the 266th New Zealand test cricketer and the 16th to debut at the historic venue if he's selected to play at Lord's.

Much depends on how he shapes up after weeks in the IPL nets, given he's yet to feature in the tournament. He will be competing with incumbent Doug Bracewell and the experienced Neil Wagner for the third pace bowler spot behind Southee and Boult.

Bracewell's 55 wickets at an average of 35.10 in 19 tests and Wagner's 58 wickets at 34.48 in 16 are respectable numbers, plus they have the opportunity to play red-ball cricket against Somerset and Worcestershire in the warm-up fixtures.

The temptation to play Henry stems from his ability to take advantage of the grassy wickets likely in England in May.

The English Duke balls have a prouder seam than the Kookaburra brand used in New Zealand and Henry's skill-set becomes important, especially when matched with his ability to bowl a consistent full length to maximise swing.

Henry took six wickets at 18.83 in the List A games on last year's New Zealand A tour of England, and seven wickets at 15.85 in the first-class match against Surrey at The Oval, including a return of five for 18 in the first innings.

Before his World Cup call-up, he bowled regularly at first-class level, taking 20 wickets at 28.55 in six matches for Canterbury. His ODI record, striking every 22 balls for 23 wickets at 17.82, is a noted asset.

If this quote before the World Cup final is any gauge, Henry also welcomes pressure situations: "It's not a time to be afraid, this is something to enjoy. It's all been a bit of a contrast coming from the Plunket Shield, where there are not too many around, to everyone screaming my name at Eden Park."

He should, then, be more than capable of dealing with the genteel murmur at Lord's.