Chris Martin

Chris Martin's cricket career told two entirely different stories depending on which end of the pitch you watched him from. With the ball, he was one of the most reliable, hardworking bowlers New Zealand produced in the 2000s. With the bat, however, he was a genuine tail-ender in the truest sense.

A tall, angular right-arm fast-medium bowler from Christchurch, Martin relied on accuracy and gentle seam movement rather than raw pace. He made his Test debut against South Africa in November 2000, and though Shane Bond was originally intended as New Zealand's lead fast bowler, Bond's frequent injuries meant Martin was often thrust into the role instead.

A standout return of 11 wickets against South Africa in Auckland in March 2004, in his first Test back after nearly two years out of the side, underlined that he could win matches on his own when conditions and rhythm aligned. Over the course of his career, Martin established himself as one of New Zealand's most dependable Test bowlers of his generation, finishing with 233 wickets in 71 Tests. His batting remained a genuine limitation throughout, with a Test average of 2.36 and a long wait before he first reached double figures. But it never took away from his value to the side as a bowler.

Martin briefly appeared to be nearing the end of his international career after a poor home series against Australia in 2010, in which he managed only a single wicket, but he reinvented himself soon after with a five-wicket haul in Ahmedabad on tour in India. He also had brief stints in county cricket, playing for Warwickshire and Essex, before retiring from all forms of the game in July 2013, at the age of 38.