Martin Guptill
A powerhouse opener whose explosive batting rewrote World Cup record books and propelled New Zealand's white-ball teams to new heights.
Born 1986 (age 40)·New Zealand cricketer·Birthday: September 30·Millennials
Biography
Martin Guptill announced himself to the cricketing world with a brutality that became his signature. A tall, imposing figure at the crease, he combined raw power with surprising agility, a product of his early years as a competitive roller hockey player. His career is punctuated by innings of breathtaking scale. In the 2015 Cricket World Cup quarter-final, he played what many consider the definitive knock of his life, an unbeaten 237 that demolished the West Indies and remains the highest individual score in World Cup history. For over a decade, he was the engine at the top of New Zealand's order, forming destructive partnerships and setting platforms that allowed the Black Caps to shed their conservative image. While his Test career had its challenges, his legacy is cemented in colored clothing, as a central figure in the era that saw New Zealand transform into a consistent, fearless force in limited-overs cricket, reaching two World Cup finals.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Martin was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Martin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Martin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored 237 not out against West Indies in the 2015 World Cup, the highest individual score in tournament history.
- Became the first New Zealand batsman to score a double century in a One Day International.
- Played a key role in New Zealand reaching the finals of the Cricket World Cup in both 2015 and 2019.
- Is one of the leading run-scorers in T20 International cricket history.
Did You Know?
He lost two toes on his left foot in a forklift accident as a teenager but recovered to become a professional athlete.
He was a talented roller hockey player in his youth and represented New Zealand at the junior level.
He holds the record for the highest score by a New Zealand batsman in T20 Internationals (105).
He is married to Laura McGoldrick, a well-known television sports presenter in New Zealand.
“I just try to hit the ball as hard as I can.”
