Zakary Foulkes, a New Zealand pacer, delivered an unforgettable Test debut. He grabbed a four-wicket haul against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Foulkes is a 23-year-old and is known for his domestic brilliance with Canterbury, which made an immediate impact by dismantling Zimbabwe’s middle order in the second Test of the series.
Hailing from Christchurch, Foulkes had previously played 13 T20 Internationals for New Zealand, collecting 15 wickets at an average of 24.46. He made his T20I debut in April 2024 against Pakistan, at a time when several senior BLACKCAPS players were busy with the IPL.
Foulkes also featured in a rain-abandoned ODI against Sri Lanka in November 2024, which makes this long-awaited Test debut even more special. The hosts’ confidence was shaken as Foulkes took advantage of the situation and removed important batters Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza, and Trevor Gwandu.
“Foulkes cleaned the middle order entirely as Zimbabwe failed to establish their authority in the middle.”
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Domestic Star Turns International Headliner
Foulkes had been a standout performer in New Zealand’s domestic circuit. In 19 First-Class matches, he claimed 57 wickets at an average of 27.15 and contributed 544 runs with the bat, including a top score of 75.
His rise accelerated when Will Williams left Canterbury, leaving Foulkes and Matt Henry to shoulder the bowling responsibilities. Despite the pressure, Foulkes thrived. He ended the 2022–23 Super Smash season as Canterbury’s highest wicket-taker and gained further experience with stints at Durham and Warwickshire during the Vitality Blast, where he claimed 16 wickets in 17 matches.
Henry and Foulkes Rip Through Zimbabwe Line-up
Matt Henry contributed further firepower with a spectacular five-wicket haul, his sixth in Test cricket, while Foulkes made an impression on debut. The Canterbury pair destroyed Zimbabwe’s batting order, dismissing them for a mere 125 runs. Throughout the innings, Foulkes and Henry applied constant pressure, making the home team look helpless against the well-organized pace attack.
What This Means for New Zealand
Foulkes’s outstanding debut gives New Zealand a significant boost as they work to develop the next generation of pacers. New players like Foulkes ensure that the Blackcaps’ fast history survives as Trent Boult and Tim Southee gradually depart.
This achievement not only enhances Foulkes’ reputation but also validates the wealth of fast-bowling resources in New Zealand. As the Test progresses, everyone will be watching to see how the youngster improves on this amazing start.
