New Zealand's rising batting sensation Henry Nicholls turns a year older on Friday (November 15, 2019). Hailing from Christchurch, the left-handed batsman will celebrate his 28th birthday. The southpaw is gifted with a sound technique and his strokeplay can give many bowlers a run for their money. To date, Nicholls has represented the Blackcaps in three formats of the game. However, his best always came out in Test matches in which he has played some incredible innings in his brief career. In fact, he holds the sixth spot as per the current ICC rankings for Test batsman. James Neesham Mocks Belated ICC Boundary Rule Change.

Nicholls made his debut way back in December 2015 and didn't take long in cementing his side in the Test and ODI format. In the longest format of the game, the middle-order batsman has scored 1593 runs from 27 matches with an impressive average of over 44. Nicholls also has aggregated 1120 runs in 43 ODI matches. These runs in international cricket don't come easily and thus the southpaw has certainly proved his mettle. Along with solid defense work, the Kiwi star can score runs at a rapid pace too and will have a crucial role to play in his side's upcoming assignments. Meanwhile, let's look at some terrific knocks and some lesser-known fact by the batsman as he turns 28.

  • Henry Nicholls hails from Christchurch in New Zealand.
  • The batsman made his international debut against Sri Lanka on December 26, 2015.
  • The southpaw can also keep wickets and was part of New Zealand’s squad for ICC World T20 2016.
  • In the 2019 World Cup Final, Nicholls was New Zealand’s highest scorer with 55 runs.
  • He currently holds the sixth spot in ICC Test batting rankings.

162 Against Sri Lanka in Christchurch

After scoring just one run in the first innings of the match, Nicholls made an impeccable comeback in his side's second innings in the second Test of Sri Lanka's 2018-19 Tour of New Zealand and mustered a brilliant hundred. Coming to bat at number five, the youngster showed great resilience and scored runs to all parts of the ground. Courtsey his effort, the hosts posted 585 runs in the third innings of the match which proved to be a jolting task for the Lankans and they lost the match by 423 runs.

145* Against England in Auckland

The second Test of England's 2018 Tour of Sri Lanka was the other instance when the southpaw came good with the willow and sealed his side's victory. On a wicket where the Englishmen were bundled out 58 in the first innings, Nicholls played a gem of an innings and tightened his wife's grip over the encounter. The likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad seemed completely ineffective against him as he smashed a fantastic century and powered his team's total to 427 in the second innings. The visitors failed to make any sort of comeback and lost the match by an innings and 49 runs.

124* Against Sri Lanka in Nelson

Formats changed but Nicholls' love affair with the Lankan bowlers remained the same. In the third ODI of the tour mentioned above, the left-handed batsman played a fiery innings and smashed boundaries and sixes to all the parts of the ground. With the help of 12 boundaries and three sixes, Nicholls registered his maiden ODI ton as New Zeeland posted 364 in the first innings. In reply, Sri Lanka were packed for 249 runs and handed a 115-run victory to the Kiwis.

The left-handed batsman will be next seen in action when New Zealand will take on England in the two-match Test series at home. With a long Test season hand, Nicholls will certainty have s role to play and his performance will also be critical in New Zealand's success in the ongoing ICC World Test Championships.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2019 08:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).