Matt Henry's 11 Wickets at The Oval Puts Him in Cricket History

Matt Henry of New Zealand (Getty Images)

Matt Henry's remarkable performance at The Oval not only helped New Zealand level the Test series against England but also placed him alongside one of cricket's greatest names in the venue's history books.

The New Zealand fast bowler became the first player since Shane Warne during the 2005 Ashes to claim 10 or more wickets in a Test match at The Oval. He is also the first pace bowler to achieve the feat at the ground since Devon Malcolm's memorable effort against South Africa in 1994.

Henry produced a career-defining display as New Zealand thrashed England by 253 runs to square the series and force a decider in Nottingham. His match figures of 11-109, comprising 5-80 in the first innings and 6-29 in the second, were the best ever recorded by a New Zealand bowler against England in Test cricket.

The achievement carried extra significance given Henry's difficult outing in the opening Test at Lord's. Back spasms on the first morning severely restricted the experienced seamer and left him feeling he had not contributed as expected. Although he managed to pick up a wicket, he was far from his usual influential self.

A 10-day break between the Tests allowed the 34-year-old to recover fully, and he returned at The Oval with devastating effect. England resumed the final day hoping for a miracle chase, but Henry quickly extinguished those hopes.

He trapped Joe Root lbw for 77, becoming the first bowler to dismiss both Root and Harry Brook twice in the same Test match. The right-armer then tore through the lower order. Jofra Archer 's stumps were rattled by a delivery that stayed low, Matthew Fisher chopped onto his stumps to become Henry's 150th Test wicket, and Josh Tongue edged to first slip as the paceman completed a sensational five-wicket haul in the innings.

Henry's spell on the final morning yielded figures of 5-3 in just 31 deliveries as England's resistance crumbled in less than an hour.

“We hit the top of off on repeat,” New Zealand captain Tom Latham said. “Matt Henry is good at putting it on the mark. First innings and second, he built pressure through dot balls and getting crucial wickets. He's been a spearhead for us for a long period, nice for him to get the results.”

Since the beginning of 2024, Henry has emerged as one of the most effective fast bowlers in world cricket. After spending much of his career in the shadow of Tim Southee and Trent Boult, he has flourished as New Zealand's pace leader, taking 80 wickets in his last 14 Tests and collecting seven of his eight career five-wicket hauls during that period.

Reflecting on his turnaround from Lord's to The Oval, Henry admitted the first Test had been frustrating. “It feels bad when you let the guys down on day one,” he said. “It was great to come here and get my quota out.”

Henry also credited wicketkeeper Tom Blundell for his role behind the stumps, particularly for standing up to the wicket and helping keep England's batters uncertain about their footwork. “Having a world-class operator like Tom is huge,” Henry said. “He's always up for it. You can't do it unless you've got someone good behind the stumps. We know England like to create a flow of runs.”

The pacer was equally quick to praise New Zealand's bowling unit as a whole. “It's pretty easy when you've got a strong bowling group. Kyle (Jamieson) and Will (O'Rourke) coming back from injuries, their character to come back the way they have. Nathan Smith going from strength to strength. You're only as good as the strength of the group.”

For Henry, The Oval will now hold a special place in his career. More than two decades after Warne's famous Ashes performance, the New Zealand seamer etched his own name into the ground's history with a spell that ranks among the finest by a visiting bowler in England.