New Zealand opener Devon Conway on
Wednesday became the sixth player in the history of Lord’s Cricket Ground to
have hit a double century on Test debut innings. He scored 200 runs, the highest score by a debutant at the hallowed turf.
A 29-year-old New Zealand batsman of
South African origin, Conway earlier started off his One Day International (ODI)
career with an average of 75, making a maiden international century in the
third ODI against England.
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In T20 Internationals, on the other
hand, he averaged 59.12 so far with a strike rate of 151.11.
Born and brought up in South Africa,
Conway made his shift to New Zealand in 2017, carrying with him the experience
of 100 First-class games and 70 List A games, one of his greatest strengths has
seemingly been being able to adapt across formats.
After his arrival in New Zealand,
Conway started playing for the University Club and gradually made his move to
the Kiwi domestic T20 league Super Smash, representing the Wellington Firebirds.
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A wicket keeper-batsman with right-arm
medium pace bowling in his arsenal, he has scored a total of 225 runs in his
three ODI matches so far. The number rises to 473 in T20I’s, and a total of
7,310 when it comes to First Class cricket.
“He’s an experienced
player. He’s played a lot of first-class cricket and he gets his opportunity to
make his debut at the home of cricket”, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had
earlier said prior to England’s first Test, which the batsman seems to have
proven correct with his 163-ball century.