Mid-Test Tom Blundell Appreciation (Blackcaps vs England
Aotearoa's Blackcaps had their first innings propped up by a delightful knock of 138 from Tom Blundell, dragging the kiwis back into a contest against England. Blundell's century featured standard Blundell mahi as he was quick to pounce on short deliveries, aggressive in shuffling down the wicket and the hearty Wellingtonian always seems to generate some cricketing luck with multiple edges flying to the boundary.
There is an obvious connection to Blundell's dominance in England last winter. Blundell was the second best kiwi batter with 383 runs @ 76.6avg and a strike-rate of 49.67 across the three Tests. This knock at Bay Oval featured a strike-rate of 76 as Blundell ate up England's bouncer baggies and hurried the innings along as the Blackcaps bowlers hung around.
Blundell has scored runs recently as well though. In Pakistan Blundell had scores of 47, 51 and 74 before returning to the Super Smash with a knock of 70 @ 142.85sr. Blundell didn't jack up Ford Trophy runs in his six games for Wellington, but his 23.33avg/90.32sr reflects his frisky domestic batting in limited overs cricket. Blundell loves to whack boundaries in SS and FT.
Plunket Shield is where Blundell has scored most of his domestic runs this summer. Blundell played all four games of the first stanza and scored 388 runs @ 48.5avg/74.9sr with two centuries and two halfies. Blundell's PS strike-rate is aligned with his strike-rate from the first innings century vs England. Blundell is fourth for PS runs right now, one of five batters who scored 350+ runs in the first four games.
Since January 1st 2020, Blundell is third for Blackcaps Test runs (1,230 runs @ 42.41avg).
Since January 1st 2022, Blundell is first for Blackcaps Test runs (907 runs @ 64.78avg)
Blundell has played lots of games in those pockets. Only Tom Latham has played more games since the start of 2020 and Blundell is one of four Blackcaps to play 10 games since the start of 2022. Playing lots of games helps Blundell rise up the charts, although he still needs to score the runs. Blundell is only joined by Latham with the most 50+ scores (11) since the start of 2020 and Blundell is alone on Kapiti Island with nine 50+ scores since the start of 2022, also with the highest average.
There has been adversity in Test cricket for Blundell to wiggle through. After scoring a century in 2017 and 2019 (averaging 68 in both years), Blundell dipped down to 27.77avg in 2020 and then 12.16avg in 2021. Blundell returned to his status-quo with 58.54avg last year and averaging 87.66 this year.
Most notably, Blundell averages 44.87 in Aotearoa and 46.11 overseas. His mahi in England is low hanging fruit but Blundell was impressive in Pakistan and has served it up again upon his return to Aotearoa.
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