Henry Nicholls Shines with Century, Pressures New Zealand Test Squad

Henry Nicholls delivered a standout performance in the Plunket Shield, scoring 111 runs for Canterbury against Otago in Dunedin. His century bolstered Canterbury to an impressive total of 356-7 on the opening day of the match held at the University of Otago Oval on November 1, 2023. Despite his remarkable form, Nicholls will not feature in the first test for the Black Caps at his home ground next week.

Nicholls entered the match at No. 4, showcasing his skills with a commanding innings that included 14 fours and a six off 157 balls. This century marks his third in the ongoing 2023/24 domestic season, following two centuries in the Ford Trophy one-day competition, where he maintained an average of 76.50. His consistent performance earned him a call-up to the Black Caps ODI squad against the West Indies, stepping in after Daryl Mitchell sustained a groin injury. Although he was included in the squad, he did not play in the last two matches of the series.

The 34-year-old veteran returned to the test team in August when key players Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, and Glenn Phillips were unavailable for selection against Zimbabwe. During that series, Nicholls scored 34, 4 not out, and an impressive 150 not out. However, with Latham and Williamson back for the upcoming series against the West Indies, Nicholls finds himself sidelined again.

With a total of 58 test matches under his belt, Nicholls has accumulated 3,161 runs at an average of 39.02, placing him eighth among New Zealand’s all-time century makers with ten centuries.

Other Performances in the Plunket Shield

In the same round of the Plunket Shield, Tom Latham prepared for the first test by contributing 52 runs off 91 balls as the opener. Meanwhile, Glenn Phillips demonstrated his fitness by bowling 20 overs of off-spin, achieving figures of 2-65, as he aims for a potential test spot following his recovery from a groin injury.

In Wellington, rain disrupted play, preventing Tim Robinson from reaching a century. He ended the day unbeaten on 94, while Wellington recovered from a precarious 19-3 to finish the day at 196-3 against Central Districts. Robinson faced 111 balls, hitting 11 fours and one six during his innings, and he was well-supported by Gareth Severin, who remained not out on 60 from 153 deliveries.

In Mount Maunganui, spectators awaited Kane Williamson‘s attempt to secure his first Plunket Shield century in 13 seasons. After winning the toss, Northern Districts captain Jeet Raval opted to field, and Auckland struggled initially, losing three wickets to seamer Kristian Clarke before lunch. However, a resilient partnership between Ryan Harrison (53 not out) and Adi Ashok (38 not out) frustrated the hosts, as they put together an unbeaten 97-run stand for the ninth wicket.

On the same day, the West Indies’ top-order batters excelled during a two-day encounter against a New Zealand XI, with openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and John Campbell contributing significantly. Chanderpaul retired with 85 runs off 211 balls, while Campbell added 68 from 98 balls, leading the West Indies to 346-5.

As the Plunket Shield progresses, it remains to be seen how Nicholls’ impressive form will influence future selections for the Black Caps, particularly with the return of established players.