Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Thomas Ackland Blundell | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Wellington, New Zealand | 1 September 1990|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bowling | Right-arm off break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Role | Wicket-keeper-batter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National side |
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Test debut (cap 273) | 1 December 2017 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Test | 17 March 2023 v Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ODI debut (cap 196) | 5 February 2020 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last ODI | 3 May 2023 v Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ODI shirt no. | 66 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
T20I debut (cap 73) | 8 January 2017 v Bangladesh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last T20I | 8 September 2021 v Bangladesh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
T20I shirt no. | 66 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012/13–present | Wellington | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Source: Cricinfo, 11 March 2024 |
Thomas Ackland Blundell (born 1 September 1990) is a New Zealand cricketer. He made his international debut for the New Zealand national cricket team in January 2017. He also plays first-class cricket for Wellington.[1] In April 2019, he was named in New Zealand's One Day International (ODI) squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, despite being uncapped in an ODI match.[2] Blundell was a member of the New Zealand team that won the 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship. He was one of the recipients of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year award in 2023.
A scion of the ancient Lancashire gentry family,[3] Blundell was educated at Wellington College, Wellington where he excelled at cricket. Named in New Zealand's squad for the 2010 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, playing in one game,[4] Blundell made his first-class debut in 2013.[4] In June 2018, he was awarded a contract with Wellington for the 2018–19 season.[5] In November 2020, in the third round of the 2020–21 Plunket Shield season, Blundell was given out obstructing the field.[6]
In January 2017 he was added to New Zealand's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad as their wicket-keeper for their third match against Bangladesh, after Luke Ronchi was injured.[7] On 8 January 2017 he made his T20I debut for New Zealand against Bangladesh.[8]
In January 2017, he was added to New Zealand's One Day International (ODI) squad as their wicket-keeper against Australia, but he did not play.[9] In November 2017, he was added to New Zealand's Test squad for their series against the West Indies.[10] He made his Test debut for New Zealand against the West Indies on 1 December 2017.[11] He replaced the injured BJ Watling as the wicket-keeper,[12] scoring 107 not out which was the highest Test score by a New Zealand wicket-keeper on debut.[13] He also became the first wicket-keeper since Matt Prior in 2007 to score a century on Test debut.[14]
In April 2019, he was named in New Zealand's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[15][16] The International Cricket Council (ICC) named him as one of the five surprise picks for the tournament.[17] However, he did not play a match during the tournament. The following month, he was one of twenty players to be awarded a new contract for the 2019–20 season by New Zealand Cricket.[18]
In January 2020, Blundell was named in New Zealand's One Day International (ODI) squad for their series against India.[19] He made his ODI debut for New Zealand, against India, on 5 February 2020.[20]
On 2 December 2020, he was named as wicket-keeper for the Test squad for their home series against West Indies, replacing BJ Watling, who suffered an injury.[21]