Devon Conway Country: How Does South Africa-Born CSK Batter Play for New Zealand?

After a couple of low scores and a quick-fire knock of 47, New Zealand and Chennai Super Kings Southpaw batter Devon Conway has smashed back-to-back four half-centuries in the ongoing 16th season of the IPL, and has helped the ‘Yellow Army’ get off to a brilliant start in the tournament.

Ever since the present Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis was released by CSK ahead of the mega auction the previous year, Conway has seamlessly taken his spot as the team’s opening batter, and alongside young Ruturaj Gaikwad has made sure that the franchise has not been found scratching their heads to find an apt opening batting pair.

A regular name in the New Zealand national team across formats, Conway was actually born in South Africa, and had moved to New Zealand just a few years ago.

Devon Conway Country

Born on July 8, 1991 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Devon Conway had played provincial-level and second-tier domestic-level Cricket as well in the African nation growing up. In fact, at the Under-19 level, he had shared the field alongside some of the Proteas international stars in Quinton de Kock, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Temba Bavuma.

However, with a dream of making a career in the sport and in search of better opportunities, he decided to move out of Johannesburg in September 2017 to represent Wellington, and has just not looked back ever since.

Amassing truckload of First-Class runs for Wellington at an average of 72.63, the Southpaw batter finally became eligible to represent the New Zealand national team in August 2020, post passing the eligibility criteria rules of the ICC.

A dream Test debut

Conway made his maiden international appearance for New Zealand in the T20 format, against West Indies in November 2020. His knock of 41 (29), proved to be vital in the team’s five-wicket victory.

However, it was his Test debut against England in June 2021, which has placed him under the limelight. Playing in the ‘Home of Cricket’ at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, Conway smashed a fine double century, and thus became only the seventh batter to reach the landmark on Test debut.