Tom Blundell is a cricketer from New Zealand. He is a right-hand batsman and wicket-keeper. He was born on 1st December 1990 in Wellington. In New Zealand domestic cricket Blundell is called ‘sweep specialist’ for his ability to execute variety of sweep shots down the leg side.

Tom Blundell has been the eighth cricketer from New Zealand to have made debut in the ICC organized One-Day International (ODI) World Cup for his country. But despite being one of the 15-member squad in the World Cup he did not play single match in the competition. Blundell has another memorable gain in his kitty so far that he is the fourth wicket-keeper in the cricket history so far to have scored a century as wicket-keeper in Test debut.

Blundell had begun his journey in the First-class cricket in 2013 for Wellington against Auckland in a Plunket Shield match. But he was not included in the playing eleven. Blundell had already earned a place in the under-19 New Zealand squad for the World Cup in 2010. But in the junior World Cup also, Blundell obtained opportunity to participate in one match only against England where he got run out for 2 runs. Then, before entering the mainstream of the domestic cricket for Wellington in 2013, Tom Blundell had joined Essex League in England in 2012 to mature his skill. But the wicket-keeper batsman came into limelight in 2016, accumulating 1073 runs in 28 matches across all the formats in the domestic cricket Then again in 2017, Blundell produced a scintillating performance in the Plunket Shield, amassing 656 runs in only 15 innings at an average of 54.66. Simultaneously, Blundell had developed himself as a wicket-keeper, picking up 10 catches in an exciting game in the Plunket Shield against Canterbury at Basin Reserve in the same year. Tom Blundell has so far participated in 66 First-class matches and gathered 3523 runs at an average 35.94 including eight centuries. In the ‘List A’ cricket Blundell has scored 944 runs from 47 matches at an average of 24.20 including four fifties only.

Tom Blundell had begun his career in One-Day International (ODI) against India in Hamilton in February last year. Blundell however was not impressive as he got out for 9 runs playing in 10 deliveries. He also has taken part in two ODIs and scored only 31 runs.

Blundell in his Test debut against West Indies in 2017 had created history. Being the fourth wicket-keeper in the cricket history Blundell hit century. Playing in front of his family members and friends at birth place Blundell, doing justice to the opportunity, stayed on the crease for 228 minutes, faced 180 deliveries, hit 13 fours and a six and remained 107 not out. He made a solid partnership of 148 runs in the seventh wicket with Colin de Grandhomme. After that Test century, Blundell was being called ‘sweep specialist’ as his most of the four runs were the result of variety of sweep shots down the leg-side. Grandhomme, after New Zealand’s an innings and 67-run victory, told media that Blundell’s effortless ease in batting never showed that he made the debut in that Test. Blundell has participated in 9 Tests so far and gathered 522 runs at an average of 40.15 including 2 centuries. The interesting part in his debut Test was ht after having created history at Wellington with unbeaten century and after his country’s convincing triumph, Blundell started walking along the road while going back home. But he was finally caught by his teammates who prevented Blundell from being worshiped by the fans waiting outside stadium.

NA

Blundell has an envious statistic in the shortest format of the game. He had gleaned stunning 243 runs off only 9 matches which steered his Wellington to clinch Super Smash title in 2017. Having participated in 43 Twenty20 matches Blundell has already scored 818 runs with an average of 24.05 and impressive strike rate of 124.50. His consistent how in the domestic T20 matches helped him to receive a call from the national selectors for the 3rd T20 International match against Bangladesh at Mount Maunganui in January in 2017. But Blundell did not get opportunity to bat in the match. He has so far participated in 3 T20Is and scored 17 runs only.

NA