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Top 10 interesting Facts about Martin Guptill

Martin James Guptillis is a New Zealand international cricketer who plays as an opening batsman in limited overs formats of the game. He is a right-handed opening batsman and an occasional right-hand off-break bowler.

Guptill is a technically sound batsman who also has a precious gift of stroke timing, possesses the ability to launch a blitzkrieg on any bowling attack when on song.

He has had a decorated career since 2009 having played 309 international matches for New Zealand and has been one of the hardest hitters that New Zealand has produced.

Below, we discuss the top 10 interesting facts about Martin Guptill;

1. Guptill is also known as Marty Two toes

Martin Guptill, 2018 – Wikimedia Commons

The 6 feet 2-inch-tall Kiwi right-handed batter, Martin Guptill, is nicknamed “Two Toes” within the New Zealand cricket squad because he has only two toes on his left foot.

At the age of 13, Guptill met a tragic accident. His foot was crushed by a forklift and as a result, he lost his three toes. The surgeons gave their best shot, but all in vain, as his three toes were amputated.

鈥淚t was traumatic,鈥� said Guptill. 鈥淪oon I was back and got accustomed to those missing toes. My body has adjusted to it. Now it’s not a hindrance at all.鈥�

2. Stephen Fleming visited Guptill while hospitalized

Stephen Fleming – Wikipedia

During this horrific period in Guptill鈥檚 life, Stephen Fleming paid him a visit in the hospital. Stephen Fleming is considered one of the greatest batsmen for the New Zealand national cricket team, known for his astute tactical abilities.

His father Peter, a veteran club cricketer, got in touch with New Zealand team manager Jeff Crowe, requesting him to have one of the players visit his son. Stephen Fleming stopped by the next day

This visit boosted Guptill鈥檚 morale to continue playing the sport that he loved all his life. Interestingly enough, when Guptill made his debut all those years later, it was Fleming鈥檚 record that he broke.

3. Guptill worked as a truck driver

Martin Guptill, 2009 – Wikimedia Commons

Martin Guptill is a fully qualified heavy truck driver. He left school in his seventh-form year and signed up for a driver apprenticeship with Les Newth of Commercial Roadskills Ltd, to ensure he had a non-sporting trade behind him.

Upon receiving his National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport 鈥� Heavy Combination Vehicle Driver, he started working for his father鈥檚 company Peter Guptill Carriers in the winter and playing cricket in the summer.

However, it soon became clear that Guptill had a bright cricket career and so far he has remained focused on his exceptional cricket career.

4. He is the first Kiwi to slam a century on ODI debut

Martin Guptill at a training session, 2009 – Wikimedia Commons

Guptill is the first cricketer from New Zealand and the fifth overall to have scored a double century in a One Day International match.

In cricket, a century is a score of 100 or more runs in a single innings by a batsman. The term is also included in “century partnership” which occurs when two batsmen add 100 runs to the team total when they are batting together.

A One Day International (ODI) is a form of limited overs cricket, played between two teams with international status, in which each team faces a fixed number of overs, currently 50, with the game lasting up to 9 hours.

He made his ODI debut against West Indies at Auckland in 2009. His score of 122 not out is the highest score on debut for New Zealand in an ODI, and second highest debut score ever in ODIs.

5. The First New Zealander to carry his bat

New Zealand cricket team, 2009 – Wikipedia

Guptill carried his bat and finished the innings unbeaten on 237 from 163 balls as New Zealand posted an imposing 393-6 from their 50 overs, which set up a 143-run victory.

In cricket, the term carry the bat (or carry one’s bat) refers to an opening batsman who is not dismissed (“not out”) when the team innings is closed. The term is mainly used when the innings closes after all 10 wickets have fallen; that is, the other 10 players in the team have all been dismissed (“out”).

This historical knock of 237 runs broke many records, including making Guptill he first cricketer from New Zealand to carry his bat through a completed innings.

6. Hundred in all the formats of the game

Cricket match – Wikipedia

Guptill is the only man to have scored centuries in more international cricket formats than he has toes on his left foot.

He has 2 centuries in Tests and 9 in ODIs, but with his innings of 101 not out versus South Africa at East London in December 2012, Guptill achieved the rare feat of having a century to his name across formats. He is one of the six cricketers to have achieved this feat.

7. Equaled Vivian Richards鈥� record

Richards being interviewed after a cricket match in 2006 – Wikipedia

Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards KNH OBE OOC is an Antiguan retired cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.

In the New Zealand 2013 tour of England, Guptill scored back-to-back undefeated hundreds at Lord’s and Southampton, scoring 189 not out off 155 deliveries, at the time the highest score by a New Zealander in an ODI, and contributed to the then fifth-highest team total in ODI history (359).

With this knock, he equaled legendary West Indian cricketer Sir Vivian Richards s score of an unbeaten 189 on English soil.

8. Highest individual score in World Cup

New Zealand fielding in the 3rd ODI of their 2015 tour to England – Wikipedia

Guptill鈥檚 knock of 237 runs against West Indies in the Quarter-final match of the World Cup 2015 is the highest individual score in the history of World Cup cricket.

He smashed 237 runs off just 163 deliveries and blasted 24 fours and 11 maximums in the brute knock.

9. Yet to earn an IPL contract

Crowd during a match of the 2015 IPL season in Hyderabad, India – Wikipedia

Martin Guptill is one of the best batters in T20I cricket history, but the Indian Premier League, ILP, franchises have not given him enough chances.

The Indian Premier League (IPL), is a professional men’s Twenty20 cricket league, contested by ten teams based out of seven Indian cities and three Indian states. It is the most-attended cricket league in the world.

10. Guptill married a superstar

Guptill is married to Laura McGoldrick who happens to be a Radio host, News presenter, sports reporter, and an actress.

The two met for the first time when Laura was interviewing Guptill on 鈥�The Cricket Show鈥�. She shares that she doesn鈥檛 get nervous easily but Martin made her nervous. They became friends instantly and then started dating after a few years.

They got married in September 2014 and have two beautiful children 鈥� Harley and Teddy.