Blundell to open in MCG test
Tom Blundell has been confirmed to replace Jeet Raval at the top of the Black Caps’ order for the Boxing Day test against Australia in Melbourne.
New Zealand showed their hand before the test by opening with Blundell in a warmup match against a Victoria XI, and he grasped his opportunity with both hands, making an unbeaten half-century in the first session of yesterday’s play.
Blundell retired on 59 from 70 balls, having hit 10 fours, with New Zealand finished the practice fixture at 258-3.
The Black Caps later confirmed Blundell would indeed open the batting at the MCG.
Raval had averaged just 7.3 in his past nine test innings, and scored just one in each innings of the 296-run loss in Perth last week.
Black Caps coach Gary Stead had backed Raval’s retention
after his struggle in the home series against England, though Stead’s defence of the 23-test lefthander loosened somewhat after his twin failures the pink-ball
test, indicating thoughts of a potential change.
Blundell is a regular wicketkeeper, and has played two tests, filling in for an injured BJ
Watling against the West Indies in 2017, where he scored a century on debut in Wellington. But the 29-year-old was also the Black Caps’ only other batting option in the touring party.
‘‘I feel like I can do a good job wherever,’’ Blundell said yesterday following confirmation of his inclusion for the second test. ‘‘This game I’ve been given the opportunity to open, so I’m really looking forward to Boxing Day.’’
He said despite the promotion up the order he wouldn’t try to change his game too much.
‘‘I’ll probably try to still bat the same. It’s just the first 30 balls I’ll just have to be a bit more patient outside the off-stump, and if I can last those 30 balls, then hopefully I can bat a bit more positively.’’
Trent Boult played for the Victorian side in a bid to get bowling time before the test.