New Zealand will face England in the Super 8 match on Friday, 27 February 2026. To qualify for the semi-finals, it is necessary for the Kiwi team to win this match. Before the match, news has come from the New Zealand camp that their star fast bowler Matt Henry will go back home.
Matt Henry has been excellent with the new ball and has used all his experience so far in the tournament. However, he will return home after the team’s Super 8 match against England for the birth of his and his wife’s second child.
Matt Henry out of World Cup?
Matt Henry performed brilliantly in the last match against Sri Lanka, taking the wicket of in-form Pathum Nissanka on the very first ball of the second innings. The Kiwi management will hope that Henry will be at the forefront again if New Zealand qualify for the next round.
Head coach Rob Walter was supportive of Henry’s departure. She added: “First of all, we are all very excited about the arrival of Matt and Holly’s second child. This is a very important moment for their family and we are wishing them all the best.”
Walter said that Henry could return to the tournament, “There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge but we’re hopeful that the stars will align for the team and Matt and we’ll see him compete in the final stages of the competition.”
Matt Henry has been the leading wicket-taker for New Zealand so far in the tournament with six wickets in five innings at an economy rate of 7.38. Henry would be the second player to leave after this, as earlier in the group stages, Lockie Ferguson was given paternity leave and missed the match against Canada in Chennai.
The fast bowler rejoined the team and played for New Zealand against Sri Lanka in the Super Eights on 25 February. New Zealand’s bowling was excellent last night against co-hosts Sri Lanka.
Many more to follow……
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