10 Facts about Chris Martin - The Speedster from Christchurch

Former New Zealand pacer, Christopher Martin, has a place for himself in their cricket history as the third highest wicket-taker for the Kiwis in Test cricket. He got his palate of International cricket in 2000, against South Africa. Since then, he featured in 72 Tests, 20 ODIs and 6 T20Is for the New Zealand cricket team. He has always managed to entertain the crowd with his funny batting skills, and people all over the globe showed awe in the hilarious strokes of the tail-ender.

Here are some interesting facts about Chris Martin:

1. Early Life:

Born on 10 December 1974, the tall fast bowler began his career with the first-class team, Canterbury Wizards. He has also played for Warwickshire country club, Auckland Aces, and Essex cricket club in first-class cricket.

2. Prolific in the long format:

Chris Martin was deadly with his stepping bouncers and pinpoint Yorkers. He is one among the only four New Zealand bowlers to take 200 Test wickets. His best bowling figures came against Zimbabwe (6 for 26).

3. Insipid in short formats:

However, his performances in ODIs and T20Is were underwhelming thus reducing his appearances to 20 and 6 respectively.

4. Supreme selection:

He was awarded the inaugural Sir Richard Hadlee Medal at the New Zealand cricket awards ceremony.

5. Wickets more than runs:

Chris Martin has more wickets to his name than the runs he scored. It is a rare feat, even among tail-enders. Among players with more than 30 Test appearances, only Chris Martin and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar hold this infamous record. He has only 123 Test runs to exhibit while has taken 233 wickets.

6. Worst tail-ender poll:

Several sports journals selected Chris Martin as the biggest ‘bunny’ in Test cricket after conducting open polls. He had a gigantic lead over his fellow competitors, Glenn McGrath, Courtney Walsh, Monty Panesar, and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar being a few of notables.

7. Ducks:

He also holds of one of the most appalling cricket records. In the 72 appearances he made in Tests, he managed to be dismissed for a duck 36 times, six shy of the ‘leader-in-chart’, Courtney Walsh. Nevertheless, provided Walsh played 61 Tests more than Chris, his stats are more notorious and qualifies the worst tail-ender tag he held.

8. Friendship with Martin Crowe:

He has a durable friendship with Kiwis legendary batsman, Martin Crowe. Chris Martin had bowled to Crowe when the former was in his teenage. The memories were revived when Chris bowled Crowe in nets on 2011, prior to his comeback to cricket.

9. Retirement:

Chris Martin retired from international cricket on 3 July 2013, after making his notable contribution to the New Zealand cricket.

10. One of the best:

He finished being the third highest wicket taker for New Zealand in Test cricket.

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Written by Gautam Sudev