‘Dream’ debut for Tom
Tom Blundell has always wanted to play test cricket.
Day after day, week after week, Blundell would walk the footpaths outside the Basin Reserve on his way to and from Wellington College, peering through the gates and imagining playing for his country. On Friday morning, he gets that chance. The players will huddle together an hour or so before the first ball is bowled, and Blundell will be handed his black cap on the ground he calls home. He’ll become a test cricketer and fulfil a life long dream.
‘‘To be here at the Basin, I’m lucky enough to play here most weeks so to debut at home is going to be very special,’’ Blundell said.
‘‘The dream was to play test cricket for New Zealand, and I’m lucky enough to get the opportunity on Friday.
‘‘[I went to school] just across the road, so it’s pretty pleasing coming from there to represent New Zealand. When I was at school I was always walking past the Basin and wanting to get out there and represent my country.’’
About that time, Wellington-reared Mark Gillespie was making his debut for New Zealand. The speedster was the most recent product to be developed in the region before moving through the ranks and representing the nation.
Wellington have had the likes of Grant Elliott, Andy McKay and Luke Ronchi play test cricket since, but none went through the system like Gillespie and now Blundell.
It makes his debut all the more special for the region, and you can bet he’ll be welcomed to a huge reception when he first walks out to bat.
Many of those will be family, with Blundell saying, ‘‘they’ve already asked me for tickets, so they’re pretty excited. ‘‘I’m looking forward to it’’ While family and friends will be watching closely, swaying with every ball that kisses into his gloves and jerking every time the ball pings off his blade, so will his Wellington team-mates.
They’ve been advocating for Blundell’s promotion for some time now, and many of those players have been there and done that in international cricket.
With all that experience to call on, Blundell said they kept it simple when handing out advice.
‘‘They’ve just said go out and enjoy it,’’ Blundell said. ‘‘You know, you’re at home in front of your home crowd. Juts go out and enjoy it, have fun.’’
As for his role in the New Zealand team, Blundell knows there is a bit of pressure but isn’t feeling the nerves just yet.
He expects them to arrive on Thursday, the day before the match, but he’s trying to conform to the cliche and take it like any other game.
‘‘We’ve got a lot of good young talent coming through with Glenn [Phillips] and Tim Seifert, so it’s good competition’’, Blundell said of the wicketkeeping spot. ‘‘It keeps me working hard.
‘‘[BJ Watling is] a quality player. It’s big boots to fill from me. I’m just going to go out there and play the way I’ve been playing in the past, go out and enjoy it.’’
If Blundell can take his first class average into test cricket, the smile which permanently sits across his face this week won’t fade.
In 40 first class matches, Blundell has scored 2327 runs at an average of 39.44. He has four hundreds and 11 50s, and would dearly love to add to those this week.
The Basin Reserve wicket was green yesterday but is expected to brown off as Friday draws closer.