Black Caps’ barista shining
The coffee orders are fast rolling in for the Black Caps’ man of the hour, Blair Tickner.
Hawke’s Bay’s Tickner is set to play in front of his hometown fans for the first time with New Zealand in the fourth Twenty20 against England at Napier’s McLean Park on Friday.
But first, Tickner, a trained barista, has to take care of his coffee-deprived team-mates after training today.
With the Black Caps’ morning gym session at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings, Tickner’s 13th Stag cafe, which is located there, will be the big winner.
Tickner has owned the popular spot for nearly six months, having previously run two coffee carts in Aramoana in Central Hawke’s Bay in the cricket offseason.
The right-arm seamer, who shone with 2-25 in Tuesday’s 14-run win in Nelson, in just his second T20 international, might even have to jump behind the counter.
‘‘I still make a coffee. We’ve got fulltime staff now, so I don’t do as much in the summer,’’ he told Stuff.
‘‘If we get busy with the Black Caps there I might have to get the tools out and start making some coffee.’’
Tickner’s team-mates have been in his ear with their coffee requests and business should be booming – if they end up paying.
Coffee is a major passion for Tickner, who enjoys a long black, and finds it a perfect way to take his mind off cricket.
‘‘I’ll be getting their wallets out and we’ll be getting the money behind the till.
‘‘Rossco [Taylor] has been asking for freebies all week, but I know he’s got a hefty wallet, so he’ll be paying in full.’’
Born on October 13, 1993, 13th Stag takes its name from his birthdate and his lucky number. He proudly wears 13 on his back for the Black Caps – the only digits he’s worn at the elite level.
While 13 is considered unlucky for some, Tickner loves it. His late grandfather Ron Munford also shared a 13th of the month birthday.
Playing for the Black Caps, yet alone making coffees for them, seemed a long way off this time last year.
After some strong white ball performances for the Central Stags, he was selected for the third T20 in Hamilton in February against a star-studded Indian batting order with the series tied 1-1.
That situation might have daunted some domestic bowlers, but Tickner lapped up the pressure, capturing 1-34 from his four overs in the four-run win.
Born in Napier and raised in Taradale, Tickner’s family moved to the Gold Coast when he was 11.
Living in Australia, he admired Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath, but always had a soft spot for one of his own, former Black Caps speedster Shane Bond.
He played age-group representative cricket in Queensland, shifting back to the Bay aged 20, quickly cracking the region’s Hawke Cup team.
From there, he progressed onto the Stags, making his domestic debut in March 2015 in a
Plunket Shield match against Auckland.
Tickner grabbed the attention of the Black Caps’ selectors last summer, nabbing 16 T20 Super Smash wickets for the champion Stags (third most in the competition) at an economy rate of 7.72.
‘‘It doesn’t matter whether it’s club cricket, or for the Stags, or the Black Caps, I just want to do my best for the team and put selection in the back of your mind,’’ Tickner said.
‘‘That’s when you play your best cricket I think.’’
With Tickner expected to be retained in the XI for Napier, he’ll be bowling in front of a large contingent of family and friends.
He relishes bowling at McLean Park and has fond memories watching the Black Caps, and Taylor, nine years his senior, there as a youngster.
‘‘Ross Taylor is getting pretty old now because I remember him hitting a few sixes over the old stand at McLean Park when I was a kid.
‘‘I was getting on him the other day about how old he is,’’ Tickner said of the 35-year-old veteran.
Tickner’s standout showings in his first two T20 internationals won’t be lost on global franchise scouts.
His days of whipping up flat whites and cappuccinos might just be coming to an end.