The New Zealand cricket team is one of the top cricketing teams in the world. They are the champions of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) and have progressed immensely in the longest format of the game. The bowlers, in particular, have had a great impact on New Zealand's success in Test cricket. In this article we will mention some of the best bowling spells by New Zealand bowlers on debut in Test cricket.
1. Colin De Grandhomme
Colin de Grandhomme is a right-handed batter and a right-arm medium-fast bowler for New Zealand. Colin is originally from Harare and made his debut for New Zealand in Test cricket in 2016 against Pakistan. He took six wickets for 41 runs in his first innings and one wicket in the second innings.
2. Alexander Moir
Alexander Moir was a right-arm leg break bowler from Dunedin, Otago. Moir began his Test career in 1951 against England at Christchurch. He picked up six wickets for 155 runs in his first innings. Until 1959, he played in 17 matches and picked up 28 wickets in 19 innings.
3. George Cresswell
George Fenwick Cresswell was a medium pacer for New Zealand from Wanganui. In 1949, Cresswell made his Test match debut against England at The Oval. He took six wickets for 168 runs in the 41.2 overs he bowled. He featured in three Tests for New Zealand and picked up 14 wickets at an average of 22.69.
4. Tim Southee
Next on the list is Tim Southee, one of the best fast bowlers produced by New Zealand. Southee bowls right-arm medium fast and made his Test debut in 2008 against England at Napier. In 23.1 overs, he took five wickets for 55 runs in his first innings. Until 2022, he played in 88 Tests, picking up 347 wickets at an average of 28.99.
5. Bruce Taylor
Bruce Taylor was a left-handed batter and a right-arm fast medium bowler from Canterbury. In 1965, Bruce played his first Test match against India at Kolkata. He took a brilliant five-wicket haul in his first innings as a bowler, giving away just 86 runs. In 30 Test matches, he picked up 111 wickets at an average of 26.60.
6. Mark Gillespie
Mark Gillespie, a right-arm fast medium bowler from Wanganui, is next to feature on the list. Mark made his Test debut in 2007 against South Africa at Centurion. He took five wickets in his first innings, giving away 136 runs in 30 overs. He played for New Zealand in five Tests and picked up 22 wickets.
7. Paul Wiseman
Paul Wiseman was a right-arm off-break bowler from Auckland who made his debut in Test cricket in 1998. Paul played his first Test match against Sri Lanka at Colombo and picked a total of seven wickets in the match. In his first innings, he took two wickets, followed by a five-wicket haul in his second innings.
8. Ajaz Patel
Ajaz Patel, a Mumbai-born, slow left-arm orthodox for New Zealand, made his Test debut in 2018 against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi. In his first innings, Ajaz picked up a couple of wickets and then a five-wicket haul in his second innings, giving away just 59 runs. Until 2022, he had played in 12 Tests, picking up 43 wickets.
9. Douglas Bracewell
Douglas Bracewell is a right-arm fast medium bowler from Tauranga. In 2011, he started his Test career against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. Bracewell took six wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in his second innings. Until 2022, he had featured in 27 matches, picking up 72 wickets at an average of 38.83.
10. Bruce Martin
Bruce Martin was a slow left-arm orthodox bowler from Whangarei, Northland. Martin played his first Test match in 2013 against England at Dunedin. He picked up five wickets in the match, with four wickets for 44 runs being his best figures in an innings. He played in five Test matches for the Kiwis and took 12 wickets at an average of 53.83.
