New Zealand quick Matt Henry will fly back to Christchurch straight after Friday’s Super Eight match against England in Colombo, taking paternity leave for the birth of his second child. Coach Rob Walter confirmed the plan on Thursday afternoon, adding that a late-tournament return remains on the table if the Black Caps make the semi-finals.
“Firstly, we’re all very excited for Matt and Holly on the arrival of their second child,” New Zealand coach Rob Walter said in a statement. “It’s a very significant moment for their family and we’re wishing them all the best.”
Walter would love to see Henry back in black should New Zealand progress. “There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge but we’re hopeful that the stars align for the team and for Matt and that we’ll see him back competing in the final phases of the competition.”
The qualification picture is fairly simple now. Beat England on Friday and New Zealand are through – and top of Group 2 – finishing on five points. That scenario would pair them with the runners-up from Group 1 and, interestingly, would shift both semi-finals to India under the tournament’s pre-set hosting rota.
Henry has been tidy and, more importantly, incisive: six wickets in five outings, economy 7.38 – joint-best return in the squad so far. He has generally taken the new ball, then returned at the death, offering an uncomplicated mix of length, seam and the odd slower one. In short, he will be missed.
The camp has dealt with a similar situation already this World Cup. Lockie Ferguson, another senior seamer, headed home briefly when his first child arrived during the group stage, missing the Canada fixture in Chennai. He’s back in rhythm now and played against Sri Lanka on 25 February, so the template for a quick in-and-out paternity break exists.
If New Zealand stumble against England, calculators and net-run-rate tables will come out, and Henry’s World Cup may quietly end on Friday night. For now, though, the dressing-room mood is straightforward: win, celebrate a birth, and ideally welcome a refreshed new dad back for the big knockout matches.
