Matt Henry Inches Close To World Record As He Strikes 38th Consecutive Time In Tests

New Zealand’s Matt Henry is potentially two Tests and four innings away from an all-time record after the Kiwi speedster struck in his first over of Zimbabwe’s second innings on the third day of the second Test.

Henry dismissed opener Brian Bennett for a duck, and that made it the 38th consecutive innings in which he has taken at least one wicket. Among pacers, only Australia’s Dennis Lillee and Pakistan’s Waqar Younis have maintained a longer streak of taking at least one wicket in an innings.

Longest wicket-taking streak in Tests among pacers (No. of innings)

41 innings  - Dennis Lillee

41 innings  - Waqar Younis

38 innings - Matt Henry

38 innings - Kagiso Rabada

Among New Zealanders, Henry already holds the record. He has now extended the lead.

Longest wicket-taking streak in Tests among New Zealand bowlers

38 - Matt Henry

33 - Tim Southee

32 - Shane Bond

At this moment, it won’t be an overstatement to claim Henry is the undisputed best bowler in the world in Tests. Since the start of 2024, he’s now taken 64 wickets at an average of 15.96. No bowler who has taken 60+ wickets during this period, not even Jasprit Bumrah, has maintained a better average. 

January 3, 2021, in Christchurch (second innings) against Pakistan was the last time Henry failed to take a wicket in an innings in Tests