Home debut beckons for Blundell

between Sams and wicketkeeper Cam Fletcher to edge ahead of Auckland’s total.

OTAGO v ND

Northern Districts were the only side to win the toss and bat on Friday, and they soon showed why as they amassed a handy first innings total in Alexandra.

Taking on hosts Otago, four Northern Districts batsman went past the 50 mark, although they’ll be frustrated none of them kicked on to higher scores.

BJ Watling fell for 56 after opening the innings, while Anton Devcich scored 54 batting at five. Daryl Mitchell scored 60 before falling to an ugly caught and bowled. Tom Blundell couldn’t script it better if he tried.

The Wellington wicketkeeper is all but guaranteed a New Zealand test debut at his Basin Reserve home ground next week, a venue he rarely missed a match at growing up in the capital.

With BJ Watling handing over the gloves for the first test against the West Indies, starting next Friday, as he struggles to recover from a hip injury, Blundell is poised to pounce.

Watling isn’t keeping during Northern Districts’ Plunket Shield match against Otago in Alexandra, but did open the batting yesterday, scoring 56.

That effectively opens the way for the in-form Blundell to become New Zealand’s 273rd test cricketer in what would be a fairytale debut in front of family and friends.

Black Caps opener Tom Latham isn’t an option to keep in tests due to his demands with the bat, which is set to provide Blundell with his opportunity.

The 27-year-old Blundell will get a decent glimpse of the West Indies, keeping for New Zealand A in their three-day warmup match against the tourists at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, near Christchurch, beginning today.

Watling’s keeping replacement will be named following the New Zealand A match, but barring injury, Blundell’s name should be read out.

‘‘It would be pretty cool,’’ Blundell said about the possibility of a Basin test debut.

‘‘It’s an amazing ground ... For me, it was just playing cricket there in the playground and stands - really strong memories for me doing that.’’

Blundell, a Karori club man and Wellington College old boy, went on New Zealand A’s tour to India in September-october and has been in pleasing touch in the opening four rounds of the Plunket Shield for the unbeaten Firebirds.

His 10 catches in last week’s rout over Canterbury at the Basin, including six in the second innings, was the perfect reminder to the test selectors. He has been in decent nick with the bat too, amassing 182 runs from six innings at an average of 60.66, and a highest score of 43 not out.

Blundell got a taste of international cricket, making his Twenty20 debut against Bangladesh at Mt Maunganui in January, not getting a bat, and said that only whet his appetite.

‘‘After playing in that first game, I do want to play some more. Hopefully, fingers crossed, going forward I do get more of an opportunity.

‘‘That was a pretty whirlwind time. I was in there, then it was sort of over. At the end of the day,

it’s just another game of cricket with a bigger crowd and maybe on TV.’’

Injuries have hit the New Zealand A side hard for the Windies tour opener with four players forced to pull out in recent days.

Martin Guptill, who was originally meant to captain the side, was ruled out after his troublesome hamstring flared up. Injuryprone quick Adam Milne is out with lower back stiffness, while Colin Munro and Scott Kuggeleijn withdrew due to illness.

The quartet have been replaced by Latham, who will get an early sighter of the West Indies attack before the first test, allrounder Jimmy Neesham and Wellington duo Hamish Bennett and Logan van Beek.

Latham will captain the side.