His journey to international cricket has been noteworthy, marked by his consistent performances and contributions to the New Zealand side
Devon Philip Conway, a left-handed batsman born on July 8, 1991, is a prominent New Zealand cricketer representing the national team across all formats. Conway entered the international arena for New Zealand in November 2020 and has swiftly cemented his role as a pivotal player in the squad. His journey to international cricket has been noteworthy, marked by his consistent performances and contributions to the New Zealand side.
As we celebrate his 33rd birthday, let's learn about the lesser-known facts about the batter in the following paragraphs.
In March 2017, at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, Devon Conway, then 26 years old, celebrated his maiden first-class double-century for Gauteng at the provincial level. After eight years in professional cricket, it was a significant achievement, yet it marked a bittersweet moment. Despite his success at the provincial level in South Africa's second tier of domestic cricket, Conway struggled to make an impact in top-tier franchise cricket, playing just 12 matches for the Lions with an average of 21.29 and one half-century.
Conway decided August would leave South Africa and start afresh in New Zealand. His move was influenced by his friends and fellow South African domestic players Malcolm Nofal and Michael Rippon, who had already relocated to New Zealand for cricket.
New Zealand has witnessed the rise of a new star in Devon Conway, whose unbeaten 136 against England in the first Test at Lord's Cricket Stadium broke several records. The left-handed batsman guided his team to a solid position by the end of Day 1, starting with a steady opening partnership of 58 runs alongside Tom Latham. However, Latham fell in his 20s, giving debutant Ollie Robinson his maiden Test wicket, and England managed to strike twice more in the second session. Despite the setbacks, Conway continued to impress after tea, reaching his century off 163 balls with a boundary off Robinson.
Devon Conway celebrates his debut double-century
His partnership with Henry Nicholls crossed the 100-run mark, consolidating New Zealand's position as they finished the day at 246 for three. Conway's century on debut made him the 12th New Zealand batsman to achieve this feat in Test cricket. On debut, he joined an elite group of Lord's centurions, including former captains Sourav Ganguly and Andrew Strauss. On the second day, Conway continued his impressive form, marking his Test debut with a double century. His remarkable innings finally ended after facing 347 balls when he was run out.
Conway grew up on a large plot of land just outside Johannesburg, where his family raised various animals, including horses, chickens, rabbits, sheep, and cows. His father was a football coach at a local club and had a strong passion for motorsports. Initially, Conway's first love was football, influenced by his father's involvement in the sport. He trained alongside his friend Elton Jantjies, who later became a Springbok rugby player.
Devon Conway celebrates his triple century // Picture Courtesy: ESPN Cricinfo
Conway secured his place in New Zealand cricket history with a flawless 327, not out against Canterbury in the Plunket Shield. His monumental innings included reaching a triple century from 334 balls, marking just the eighth score in New Zealand and the highest at the Basin Reserve, surpassing Michael Papps' 316 not out. Despite Wellington's early struggles at 20 for 3, Conway's commanding performance anchored partnerships, including 129 with Malcolm Nofal, 173 with Peter Younghusband, and 159 with Jamie Gibson. His exceptional form underscores his imminent entry into the New Zealand team once his qualification period concludes, backed by praise from coach Gary Stead.
