December 13, 2024 • 7 mins
Despite the Black Caps' 323-run trouncing by England in test two at the Basin Reserve, a highlight for New Zealand was Tom Blundell's fifth career century.
Ahead of the dead rubber third test in Hamilton, Blundell joined Adam Cooper to preview the match.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
So to look ahead too the third and final Test.
We joined Tom Blundell from Hamilton ahead of the game
starting in a couple of hours time. Tom, Thanks for
your time and congratulations on another knock at your home ground,
the Basin Reserve last week in there must have been
a pretty pleasing moment for you.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Yeah, you know, obviously very pleased the way I went personally,
but yeah, it's always nice to do well at the Basin.
You know, I've played a lot of cricket there and
you know, to you know, score one hundred years a
pretty cool feeling.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Does it give you a realistic advantage when you are
in the middle of a tough Test match? But the
Basin is your home grounds, the one you've had so
much time on over the years. Does some of that
experience there come back to help?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah, certainly, I think I know that worked pretty well.
You know, it suits my game pretty well. So like
I said before, you know, I've played a lot of
cricket there and you know it's a pretty special place,
you know, not just for myself but for welling Tonians
and fishing you on, and it's one of the best
grounds going around, so you know, it's always nice to do.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Well there and given where the game stood, Tom, what
was your mental focus when you went out to bat
knowing that England were in a pretty good position there
on day three?
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yeah, I think the score was irrelevant in that regards.
It was just go out there and that my way,
and you know, have a partnership along the way. You know,
the way Matsion Smith came out and me and him
they had their little partnership was great. But for me,
it was just, you know, that the way I want
to play, and you know, hopefully you know, be out
there for a number of overs and unfortunately didn't stay
(01:33):
there for as long as I wanted to, but you know,
pretty pleased the way way I performed.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
We can all remember back to your celebration at the
Basin back when you had your maiden test century on
debut back in twenty seventeen, walking home and your whites.
How did you celebrate last Sunday?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, I guess it was very bit of sweet in
regards to that. You know, obviously, you know, losing on
day three is not the best, but it was quite chill.
Just we had a few beers in the changing room
and just sort of and then just went home after that,
but nothing too big. But yeah, it was a little
bit bitter sweet.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
And how important was getting a score like that for you,
Tom Given. I guess you have the Indian Series to
look back on from the year, but at other times
it has been a challenging year for you and the team.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah, I think I'm very pleased the way I've been
out there and performed. You know, runs have been hard
to come by in the last few months, but you know,
I always knew it was there. The way I've been
hind the board in the net, I'm very pleased with
and it was nice to translate that and out in
the middle. But you know, it's again, it was a
little bit bitter sweet. But you know, hopefully we can
(02:38):
carry on. I can carry on that form into Hamilton
this week and.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
When you may not be getting the runs you ideally
hope for, how do you deal with that between games
between series as well? Knowing that, I guess there's always
going to be some outside noise, some people telling up
your average and things like that.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Yeah, I guess you don't really listen to the noise
around you best you can, But you know, the thing
that was most pleasing was you know the way I've
been hitting the ball in the net for the last
few months. You know, I'm pretty happy with that. It
was it just didn't really correlate out into the middle,
but I always knew it was there. It was always
about just you know, trusting, trusting what I've done and
(03:16):
what I do and I knew that big score was
around the.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Corner, so to nail down in the series. Now, from
a team perspective, what is the focus for Match three?
These these kind of games, I guess he usually described
as dead rubbers, But with it being the last test
of the home summer and I guess the last test
for the team for quite some time, how are you
approaching it?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, definitely, I think obviously the theory series has gone,
but you know it's still a test match and we're
going to be out there and try to win the
game obviously, but you know where it's been a tough series.
I think, you know, the way England have played, you know,
they're playing some good crickets. So for us, as you know,
going out there and performing well, we know it's there.
(03:57):
You know, we saw there in India, all being different conditions,
but you know, hopefully Hamilton, we can we can put
out a performance in Hamilton.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
And with Devin Conway out for this one, Will Young
coming into the lineup, how much does that change the
black Caps batting dynamic to you feel?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, I guess it's you know, it's it's great for
Dev having his first child, but you obviously got Janie
waiting in the wings and the way he performed in India,
you know, getting that player of the series and the
way he went about his batting all been in different conditions.
But you know, I know, Yani, he's rare in to
go and you know he's a great addition to our
batting line.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
And for yourself, you've been a long time domestic teammate,
a long time friend of Rutch and Ravendra and you
guys are spending a lot of time out in the
middle now through your Test careers. How much have you
enjoyed watching Rutch and go from being a talented Kurtin's
teenager around Wellington heare to now keep part of the
Test team.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, he's obviously, he's fantastic. You know, the short time
he's been in this team, you know, some of the
performance he's put out has been just amazing and you know,
he's got a massive career ahead of him, and you know,
it's quite nice that little touch with a teammate and
you know, he's a talent and he's just great to
(05:11):
have around the dressing room. He's a big part of
our environment. But yeah, he's just great to have around
and obviously he's a gun with a bat and.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Any Test team around the world, Tom, there's always going
to be debate around where the wicket keeper bats and
how that sort of fits in with the team. For you,
batting at number six, is that where right now you
feel your best contributing at the moment?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, I think, you know, for the make of the team,
six is the position for me any high you know,
you obviously got Daryll five, and then I think having
GP at seven, you know sort of, you know, it
is a great matchup for the team. So I'm happy
at six. You know, I don't know if they will
change in the future, but yeah, I'm pretty comfortable.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
But what about the workloads and just how physically demanding
is it taking on that full time keeper role and
having the batting position. It's especially I guess of a
lot of the top water wickets are falling early.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yeah, I guess it can be challenging at times, especially
if you're in the field for a good amount overs.
But you know, I've done it for so long now,
I'm pretty used to it. Yeah, it's a position that
I enjoy, but yeah, you know, it can be difficult
at times when you when you keep along long stin
in the field.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
And just finally, Tom, a word on Tim Salvey. He's
back on his home turf today for the farewell test
for him. You've been a teammate of his for such
a long time and domestically an opponent of his for
many years. What what's the move of everyone, especially in
camp as we count down to see his final match
when his Zealand.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Yeah, I guess it's for us as a pretty sad moment,
you know, probably the last time we're going to share
ament thressing room together. You know, he's pretty influential in
our chaining room, in our environment, and you know he's
done wonderful, wonderful things for the for the New Zealand
team over the years, and it's going to be a
sad moment and hopefully we can go out with a
bang for him.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Indeed, Well, Tom, appreciate your time here. On News Talks EDB.
Congrats again on another time at the Basin Reserve last weekend, mate,
and go well for the final tests of the summer
and Hamblesome this weekend.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Cool. Thank you very much, appreciate it. For more from
News Talks EDB, listen live on air or online, and
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio.
So to look ahead too the third and final Test.
We joined Tom Blundell from Hamilton ahead of the game
starting in a couple of hours time. Tom, Thanks for
your time and congratulations on another knock at your home ground,
the Basin Reserve last week in there must have been
a pretty pleasing moment for you.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Yeah, you know, obviously very pleased the way I went personally,
but yeah, it's always nice to do well at the Basin.
You know, I've played a lot of cricket there and
you know, to you know, score one hundred years a
pretty cool feeling.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Does it give you a realistic advantage when you are
in the middle of a tough Test match? But the
Basin is your home grounds, the one you've had so
much time on over the years. Does some of that
experience there come back to help?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah, certainly, I think I know that worked pretty well.
You know, it suits my game pretty well. So like
I said before, you know, I've played a lot of
cricket there and you know it's a pretty special place,
you know, not just for myself but for welling Tonians
and fishing you on, and it's one of the best
grounds going around, so you know, it's always nice to do.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Well there and given where the game stood, Tom, what
was your mental focus when you went out to bat
knowing that England were in a pretty good position there
on day three?
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yeah, I think the score was irrelevant in that regards.
It was just go out there and that my way,
and you know, have a partnership along the way. You know,
the way Matsion Smith came out and me and him
they had their little partnership was great. But for me,
it was just, you know, that the way I want
to play, and you know, hopefully you know, be out
there for a number of overs and unfortunately didn't stay
(01:33):
there for as long as I wanted to, but you know,
pretty pleased the way way I performed.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
We can all remember back to your celebration at the
Basin back when you had your maiden test century on
debut back in twenty seventeen, walking home and your whites.
How did you celebrate last Sunday?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, I guess it was very bit of sweet in
regards to that. You know, obviously, you know, losing on
day three is not the best, but it was quite chill.
Just we had a few beers in the changing room
and just sort of and then just went home after that,
but nothing too big. But yeah, it was a little
bit bitter sweet.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
And how important was getting a score like that for you,
Tom Given. I guess you have the Indian Series to
look back on from the year, but at other times
it has been a challenging year for you and the team.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah, I think I'm very pleased the way I've been
out there and performed. You know, runs have been hard
to come by in the last few months, but you know,
I always knew it was there. The way I've been
hind the board in the net, I'm very pleased with
and it was nice to translate that and out in
the middle. But you know, it's again, it was a
little bit bitter sweet. But you know, hopefully we can
(02:38):
carry on. I can carry on that form into Hamilton
this week and.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
When you may not be getting the runs you ideally
hope for, how do you deal with that between games
between series as well? Knowing that, I guess there's always
going to be some outside noise, some people telling up
your average and things like that.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Yeah, I guess you don't really listen to the noise
around you best you can, But you know, the thing
that was most pleasing was you know the way I've
been hitting the ball in the net for the last
few months. You know, I'm pretty happy with that. It
was it just didn't really correlate out into the middle,
but I always knew it was there. It was always
about just you know, trusting, trusting what I've done and
(03:16):
what I do and I knew that big score was
around the.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Corner, so to nail down in the series. Now, from
a team perspective, what is the focus for Match three?
These these kind of games, I guess he usually described
as dead rubbers, But with it being the last test
of the home summer and I guess the last test
for the team for quite some time, how are you
approaching it?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, definitely, I think obviously the theory series has gone,
but you know it's still a test match and we're
going to be out there and try to win the
game obviously, but you know where it's been a tough series.
I think, you know, the way England have played, you know,
they're playing some good crickets. So for us, as you know,
going out there and performing well, we know it's there.
(03:57):
You know, we saw there in India, all being different conditions,
but you know, hopefully Hamilton, we can we can put
out a performance in Hamilton.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
And with Devin Conway out for this one, Will Young
coming into the lineup, how much does that change the
black Caps batting dynamic to you feel?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, I guess it's you know, it's it's great for
Dev having his first child, but you obviously got Janie
waiting in the wings and the way he performed in India,
you know, getting that player of the series and the
way he went about his batting all been in different conditions.
But you know, I know, Yani, he's rare in to
go and you know he's a great addition to our
batting line.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
And for yourself, you've been a long time domestic teammate,
a long time friend of Rutch and Ravendra and you
guys are spending a lot of time out in the
middle now through your Test careers. How much have you
enjoyed watching Rutch and go from being a talented Kurtin's
teenager around Wellington heare to now keep part of the
Test team.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, he's obviously, he's fantastic. You know, the short time
he's been in this team, you know, some of the
performance he's put out has been just amazing and you know,
he's got a massive career ahead of him, and you know,
it's quite nice that little touch with a teammate and
you know, he's a talent and he's just great to
(05:11):
have around the dressing room. He's a big part of
our environment. But yeah, he's just great to have around
and obviously he's a gun with a bat and.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Any Test team around the world, Tom, there's always going
to be debate around where the wicket keeper bats and
how that sort of fits in with the team. For you,
batting at number six, is that where right now you
feel your best contributing at the moment?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, I think, you know, for the make of the team,
six is the position for me any high you know,
you obviously got Daryll five, and then I think having
GP at seven, you know sort of, you know, it
is a great matchup for the team. So I'm happy
at six. You know, I don't know if they will
change in the future, but yeah, I'm pretty comfortable.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
But what about the workloads and just how physically demanding
is it taking on that full time keeper role and
having the batting position. It's especially I guess of a
lot of the top water wickets are falling early.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yeah, I guess it can be challenging at times, especially
if you're in the field for a good amount overs.
But you know, I've done it for so long now,
I'm pretty used to it. Yeah, it's a position that
I enjoy, but yeah, you know, it can be difficult
at times when you when you keep along long stin
in the field.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
And just finally, Tom, a word on Tim Salvey. He's
back on his home turf today for the farewell test
for him. You've been a teammate of his for such
a long time and domestically an opponent of his for
many years. What what's the move of everyone, especially in
camp as we count down to see his final match
when his Zealand.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Yeah, I guess it's for us as a pretty sad moment,
you know, probably the last time we're going to share
ament thressing room together. You know, he's pretty influential in
our chaining room, in our environment, and you know he's
done wonderful, wonderful things for the for the New Zealand
team over the years, and it's going to be a
sad moment and hopefully we can go out with a
bang for him.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Indeed, Well, Tom, appreciate your time here. On News Talks EDB.
Congrats again on another time at the Basin Reserve last weekend, mate,
and go well for the final tests of the summer
and Hamblesome this weekend.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Cool. Thank you very much, appreciate it. For more from
News Talks EDB, listen live on air or online, and
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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