New Zealand, the current World Test Championship (WTC) champions, have a rich history of producing some of the game's greats. A large number of batters from New Zealand, in particular, have made their mark on the international stage. We'll now look at some of New Zealand's batters who put on impressive performances in their first Test matches.
1. Mathew Sinclair
Mathew Sinclair was a right-handed wicketkeeper batter for New Zealand and the fifth ever Kiwi batter to score a century on his Test debut. Sinclair played his debut Test match against the West Indies at Basin Reserve in 1999. He scored 214 runs off 447 balls, which included 22 boundaries. He featured in 33 Tests for New Zealand and scored 1635 runs at an average of 32.06.
2. Devon Conway
Devon Conway is a Johannesburg-born left-handed top-order batter for New Zealand. In 2021, Conway made his first appearance for New Zealand in Test cricket against England at Lord’s. He scored a brilliant 200 runs and helped his team win the match eventually. Until now, he has scored 918 runs in 10 Test matches at an average of 51.
3. Hamish Rutherford
Next, we have Hamish Rutherford, former New Zealand captain Ken Rutherford’s son. Hamish played as a left-handed opening batter and played his first Test match in 2013 against England at Dunedin. He scored an impactful 171 runs against a strong and experienced English bowling line-up. He scored 755 runs in 16 Test matches at an average of 26.96.
4. Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s current captain and one of the world’s best batters at present, is next on the list. Kane plays as a right-handed top-order batter. In 2010, he made his Test debut against India at Ahmedabad and scored a gritty 131 against a strong bowling line-up and in testing conditions.
5. James Neesham
Next on the list is James Neesham, a fast-bowling all-rounder from Auckland. Neesham plays as a left-handed middle-order batter and bowls right-arm fast-medium. He played his debut Test match in 2014 against India at Wellington and scored an unbeaten 137 runs. Until 2017, he played in 12 Tests and scored 709 runs at an average of 33.76.
6. Jackie Mills
At number six, we have Jackie Mills, a left-handed opening batter and the first Kiwi batter to score a century in his debut Test match. Mills began his Test career in 1930 against England at Basin Reserve, where he scored 117 runs off 258 balls with 12 boundaries to his name. He scored 241 runs in the seven Test matches he played for New Zealand and retired in 1933.
7. Tom Blundell
Tom Blundell is New Zealand’s current right-handed wicketkeeper batter in Test cricket. Tom started his Test career in 2017 against the West Indies at Wellington. He scored an unbeaten 107 runs in his first Test. Until now, he has scored 1192 runs in 20 Tests at an average of 41.10.
8. Rodney Redmond
Rodney Redmond was a left-handed batter for New Zealand who made his debut in Test cricket in 1973 against Pakistan at Eden Park. Rodney opened the innings for the Kiwis and scored 107 runs off 145 balls with 20 boundaries to his name. However, this was the only match he played in his Test career.
9. Mark Greatbatch
Mark Greatbatch, another left-handed Kiwi batter, is next to feature on the list. Mark began his Test career in 1988 when he played his debut Test against England at Eden Park. He played a marathon innings of 325 balls and scored 107 runs, including 12 boundaries. Before retiring from Test cricket, he played in 41 Tests for the Kiwis and scored 2021 runs.
10. Scott Styris
Scott Styris was a fast-bowling all-rounder for New Zealand and one of their best all-rounders ever. Styris batted as a right-handed middle-order batter and bowled medium-fast. In 2002, he played his first test against the West Indies at St. George’s. He scored 107 runs in the first innings, which included eight fours and one six.
