December 13, 2025 • 14 mins
New Zealand have beaten the West Indies by nine wickets in the second cricket test at Wellington to take a 1-nil lead in the three-match series.
Wicketkeeper Mitch Hay came into New Zealand’s XI at the Basin Reserve and top-scored for the Black Caps in his only innings.
He joined Piney to discuss the series so far.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Edb keeper batsman Mitch Hay in the second Test against
the West Indies in Wellington, and.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
On the poll shot goes Hey out to the boundary.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
This could run away before it does, but sure.
Speaker 5 (00:23):
Hey brings up.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
There's fifty on Test day Boot, fifty two runs of
seventy four balls.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Well vetted, well vetted. Indeed, Mitch Hay becoming just the
fourth wicket keeper to score a half century on Test
Daboo top scoring in the black Caps innings with sixty one,
also producing a very tidy display behind the stumps as
New Zealand claimed a nine wicket win well inside three days.
Mitchy is with us. Mitch, congratulations on your test, da boo.
(00:52):
The Test started on Wednesday. So when did you find
out that you would be debuting?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yeah, thank you. I found it on Tuesday morning. Yeah,
day before the game. Just got to re tap on
the shoulder from Rob's own that I was in for
for the next day. So that was obviously very exciting
and that's when the nerves really started to go to work.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
You'd already dayboot, of course for New Zealand and T
twenty cricket. You've played seven ODIs, twelve T twenties now
for the Black Caps. Were you still though a bit
nervous ahead of your Test A boot.
Speaker 6 (01:26):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I think Test create just being sort of the pinnacle
and it's the format I've sort of been striving for
for such a long time, so so you know, get
the the opportunity to day be in that format was
pretty special. And I think just for how much like
Test cret means to eveyone in New Zarnd and round
the world and me personally, I think that just culminated
(01:47):
to a few nerves, but that's all part of it.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
So we get to the first day and Tom Latham
wins the toss and you're in the field. So did
it help as a wicket keeper to bowl first and
get out there immediately on the first morning.
Speaker 6 (02:00):
Yeah, I was hoping we would be fielding first.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
I was, yeah, pretty excited to get out this away
and get into my work.
Speaker 6 (02:07):
So I took a few balls for the first ball
to sort of come through to me.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
But once that did, when in the middle of the gloves,
I thought, you know, we're going to be okay here
so from there I could get into my work and
it was really enjoyable.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
So when you reflect on the two innings, the two
complete innings at the base and how happy were you
overall with your wicket keeping.
Speaker 6 (02:26):
Yeah, no, I was really happy.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
I think, you know, standards throughout the two four innings
were really good, really high. And that's something I always
prided myself on, is all keeping, and I put a
lot of time, what effort into it to be as
good as I can be. So to see it stand
up in a Test match was really cool.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
And you shared your debut of course with one of
your Cannibury teammates, Michael Ray, combined for a couple of
wickets called Hey Bold Ray. How special was that for
the two of you?
Speaker 6 (02:53):
Yeah, it was really cool.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
It was really nice to sort of have someone else
going through similar sort of emotions and stuff throughout the
Test match, and it was really cool to share that
milestone with him. And it was just really impressive to
see him go about his work and how much it
out there. It was just really energizing his spells and
was really cool to see him get some rewards.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
I know wicket keepers have a particular role in terms
of keeping the energy high within a playing group, even
on debut, Mitch, did you feel that you were able
to do that, you know, to bring some energy even
though you know you were playing your first Test match?
Speaker 6 (03:30):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I think like a couple of things help with that,
as obviously I play with almost all the guys before,
which helps, but also I think just having that just
genuine excitement out there myself would have rubbed off on others.
But there's also stuff just around getting to the stumps
each bog and throws back in from the field, which
I think lifts.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
Everyone and keeps the stand is really high.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
So that was something I tried to pride myself on
and keep constant throughout the beginnings.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
All right to the batting innings, then going along quite nicely.
At one seventeen for two, all of a sudden a
couple of quick wickets one seventeen for four and you're in.
You walk out to join our or Mitchell. So what
sort of initial conversations are you having at that point?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Yeah, me and Darrell battered a bit together, so you know,
he was just pretty calm out there, and I guess
the game situation in a way in rebul cricket doesn't
dictate too much how you bat. You know, I'm going
to follow my game plan pretty similarly whether we're going
really well or not so well. So we were just
pretty clear in our game plans and trying to trying
to build a partnership together and work together and keep
(04:33):
our communication nice and higher so we keep each other
accountable and nice and calm. And that was the cool
thing that we're able to build a bit of a
partnership and work towards sort of climbing into that deficit.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
I know the formats are very different, but how much
does your red ball batting game plan differ from when
you're playing and batting in white ball cricket.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Well, I think the cool thing about RedBull cricket is
almost every time I go on bat, I can play
the same way that I want to, and I can
be really select with bout balls I want to score.
Speaker 6 (05:01):
Off, and I think sometimes in white.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Bull cricket, batting in the lower to mid order sort
of dictated to about how you have to play.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
So I think it's really nice.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
I've been able to have a pretty consistent game plan
that I've been able to sort of learn and trust
after my first class games for Canterbury and New Zealand
and stuff, so it's just yeah, it's just simplified, I
think compared to the white ball game plans.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
And did you feel pretty comfortable straight I mean it
looked like it. Did you feel pretty comfortable straight away
out there with the bat?
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (05:30):
I think once I got off the mark, I felt
a bit more comfortable.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
True.
Speaker 6 (05:33):
Yeah, that second ball was nice.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
It's a sneak ay single and I think the heart
rate dropped a bit after that, so yeah, I think
once I got through that, I was pretty calm. Pretty yeah,
I'm pretty confident that that I could do a job
out there, which was.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Cool and a fifty on test day but terrific stuff.
I saw some lovely foot of Gymum and dad up
in the ra van stand when you brought your fifty up.
How special a moment was it to have them there
to you know, to watch on.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
Yeah, it was really cool.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
They are were there every day, so it was great
to be able to share it with them. They've been
massive supporters of me and I couldn't thank them enough
for how much they given me growing up, So it
was really cool that they could be there to experience
it with me, I guess, and he has a really
cool but a footage that was captured wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Were you but goutt to get out when you did
couple of polls for four but then caught in the
deep trying for another one.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Yeah, yeah, no, definitely. I wasn't happy. Yeah, it's one
of those things. I had a plan to keep it
down and then I actually couldn't hit that ball much
better and just ended up being too flat straight to
the guy. So yeah, pull SHOT's obviously a strength of mind,
but can also you know, get me out sometimes, which
is just part of the game. But here it was
a frustrating time to get out because I think me
(06:40):
and Glen could built something pretty big there. But yeah,
that's cricket. I guess you're going to get out eventually.
It's just yeah, I could live with it if I'm
playing to my strengths.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Well in the end, it didn't matter. A comfortable, comprehensive
win win within three days. So it sounds as though
Tom Blundle may return from injury for the Third Test,
starting on Thursday at bay Oval. Do you feel, though
much as though you've done all you can to you know,
to make the selectors make a decision.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yeah, I guess that was my plan, just to go
out there and do as well as I could for
the team, and if I cause some selection headaches, that's that's,
you know.
Speaker 6 (07:17):
I guess I'm doing my job. But Tom's done so
so well. Think he's gone for such a long.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Time and he's been really good to me personally, So yeah,
I think he's, yeah, looking like he might be might
be good to go for the third one. So that's
pleasing for him that he's been able to recover quickly
from his injury.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Are you happy to be I don't know, aggressively patient
with this, you know, to to wait for the next
opportunity in the test side to come along.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Yeah, I guess.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I just keep doing what I can do, and when
I get opportunities to try to take them and just
keep trying to improve as a player, I guess. So
that's a cool thing for me. I'm just still trying
to get better and learn as much as I can.
And it's been really cool to be a part of
this test squad for you know, ten days or so
and pick the brains of some of the guys that
have played a lot more than me, so it's been
been a really cool learning experience as well. So yeah,
(08:05):
happy just to keep she keep trying to get better
and when I do get my chances, hopefully take.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Them absolutely well. And just on your the contact that
you have in camp with Tom Blundell, who you know
it's played a lot of test cricket, is that a
good relationship You come in you feel you can immediately,
you know, sort of pick his brains and soak up
his experience in the Black Camps camp.
Speaker 6 (08:28):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
We've worked together a bit in the past and winter
camps and stuff, and he's been really good to work with,
really cool to to sort of watch and go about
his work and ask questions of and stuff. So yeah,
it's been He's always been really good to me, really
open and honest with his sort of with his learnings
and experiences he's had.
Speaker 6 (08:43):
So yeah, he's been really good to man. And it
was no different this week either.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Did you know that it was your responsibility as keeper
to book the limousine for the traditional bowler's trip up
Mount Vicar after a test winn in Wellington?
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Yeah, I had heard whispers about that, but that was
a great great trip up there. It was really cool
to get there. Everyone who had Bold and the keeper together.
It was a pretty pretty good evenings vi fare. We
had a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Did the limousine break down Yeah.
Speaker 6 (09:11):
Yeah, overheadd up top.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Michael Rays a bit of a car guy and he
was trying to be helpful.
Speaker 6 (09:16):
But now we got back down in the end, so
all was all good. Test.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Yeah, what a cool way to wrap a very very
good test. Went all right, So on to bay Oval
now we wait to see what happens their selection wise.
Mitch terrific mate. I mean, it's just awesome to have
you out there. It's been a long time since we've
had a different wicket keeper in test crickey. You've probably
picked up on this b Ja Watland for Ages then
Tom Blundell. So great to see you on debot mate.
All the best for what lies ahead across the summer
(09:40):
and thanks as always for taking the time for.
Speaker 6 (09:42):
A chat alights it all. Thanks having me, no, thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
For joining us much. Mitch. Hey, there test a boot
in the week past at the Basin Reserve and did
all he could really didn't he, you know, to stake
his claim. There's been I note quite a bit of
conversation around what will happen in the Third Test at
bay Oval starting on Thursday. You might have heard Gavin
Larsen on the show yesterday with this black Caps selector.
(10:08):
I asked him about the selection decision now between Mitch
Hay and a returning Tom Blundell.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
Everything he did at the base and reserve to me,
it spoke to his class as innings was a very
very good one and that was that was in trying conditions.
That base and reserve pict had quickened up on day
two and Mitch showed really good determination and commitment with
his batting.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
So that was Mitch Hay. But what about Tom Blundell.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
Yes, he's been a bit light on runs, but we
also believe that he's a class player and formers temporary,
class is permanent. Tommy's going to be back on the park.
He will need to provide the performances. We've got a
lot of cricket coming up that will be keeping an
eye on Tommy and on Mitch ha.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
So there you go. So and Luke Ronkey did some
media yesterday as well, black Caps batting coach, and he
talked about Tom Blundell and his state of readiness for
the Third Test.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
So he's been training fully, been running, been batting, been keeping,
so his hamstring injury had been own read there really well.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
So he's coming back in. I don't think, you know,
they're not even trying to suggest anything else. And you know,
I actually don't mind that. I don't mind that they're
letting us know what's going on. Tom Blundell has been
Test wicket keeper for a very long time. He took
over after BJ Watling retired and was that after the
Test Championship win twenty twenty one. Yes, So Tom Blundell
(11:27):
has been the regular wicket keeper in this Test side
for four coming up five years, and I honestly believe
he deserves the opportunity to come back into the team.
He wasn't dropped. He was injured in the Test match
in christ Church. He's over that injury and so he
comes back. In the opposite view to that is that
(11:48):
if you come into a team and you play well,
that you should keep your place. So that is the
balancing act for Gavin Larsen, for Tom Latham, for Rob Walter,
those who make these decisions about what happens in the
Third Test. It has been I mean everybody who has
been quoted on the record. We've heard Davin Larson, We've
heard Luke Ronky. Daryl Mitchell said the same thing Tom
(12:09):
Latham as well during the Wellington Test match that when
Tom Blundele's fit, he comes back in and again. I
don't mind that. I don't mind it as a philosophy
of loyalty. Sometimes it can be overplayed, but I think
in this case it's the right decision. And let's not
concern ourselves too much with Mitch Hay's international future. I
(12:31):
think we can all see that he is going to
play a heck of a lot of cricket for New
Zealand in all three formats. Remember the ninety nine he
got who was that against last summer Pakistan? Ninety nine
off seventy odd balls of twenty two off the last
over or something. The guy can bat and first class
cricket average is nearly fifty. He's a good wicket keeper.
(12:51):
He's the next one coming in. Luke Ronky actually had
some advice for Mitch Hay. He had to wait as well,
Luke Ronkey for his chance to make a Test debut.
So what's his advice to Mitchay?
Speaker 4 (13:06):
It's about going out and enjoying what you're doing, and
then you understand the situation. You understand that you sort
of have to wait. Sometimes it can be frustrating, but
he did everything he could out there for us. He
obviously made some good runs. Cat Well had high energy.
So you can ask if someone coming in.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
So that's Luke Ronkey, Chris says on text, and it's
a great point. Same thing happened to Tom Blundell. Remember
he got one hundred on debut when bj Watland was injured.
Then Watland came back in. It's a Tom Blundell. I
think it went through exactly the same thing being on
Chris test debou bas In Reserve, looking up at his
old school of Wellington College and scored one hundred and
then famously I think either walked home or got the
(13:43):
bus home still wearing his whites. Maybe back to the hotel.
Maybe that urban myth has been expanded. But yeah, I
like the idea of it, and I think Tom Blundell
has earned over his test career the opportunity to continue it.
I think he'll come back in for the third Test.
He'll be first choice for England mid year India back
(14:05):
here summer and then Australia, and who knows that might
be it for Tom Blundele and then Mitchey can come
in and make Hay pardon the pun.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
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You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Edb keeper batsman Mitch Hay in the second Test against
the West Indies in Wellington, and.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
On the poll shot goes Hey out to the boundary.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
This could run away before it does, but sure.
Speaker 5 (00:23):
Hey brings up.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
There's fifty on Test day Boot, fifty two runs of
seventy four balls.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Well vetted, well vetted. Indeed, Mitch Hay becoming just the
fourth wicket keeper to score a half century on Test
Daboo top scoring in the black Caps innings with sixty one,
also producing a very tidy display behind the stumps as
New Zealand claimed a nine wicket win well inside three days.
Mitchy is with us. Mitch, congratulations on your test, da boo.
(00:52):
The Test started on Wednesday. So when did you find
out that you would be debuting?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yeah, thank you. I found it on Tuesday morning. Yeah,
day before the game. Just got to re tap on
the shoulder from Rob's own that I was in for
for the next day. So that was obviously very exciting
and that's when the nerves really started to go to work.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
You'd already dayboot, of course for New Zealand and T
twenty cricket. You've played seven ODIs, twelve T twenties now
for the Black Caps. Were you still though a bit
nervous ahead of your Test A boot.
Speaker 6 (01:26):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
I think Test create just being sort of the pinnacle
and it's the format I've sort of been striving for
for such a long time, so so you know, get
the the opportunity to day be in that format was
pretty special. And I think just for how much like
Test cret means to eveyone in New Zarnd and round
the world and me personally, I think that just culminated
(01:47):
to a few nerves, but that's all part of it.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
So we get to the first day and Tom Latham
wins the toss and you're in the field. So did
it help as a wicket keeper to bowl first and
get out there immediately on the first morning.
Speaker 6 (02:00):
Yeah, I was hoping we would be fielding first.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
I was, yeah, pretty excited to get out this away
and get into my work.
Speaker 6 (02:07):
So I took a few balls for the first ball
to sort of come through to me.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
But once that did, when in the middle of the gloves,
I thought, you know, we're going to be okay here
so from there I could get into my work and
it was really enjoyable.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
So when you reflect on the two innings, the two
complete innings at the base and how happy were you
overall with your wicket keeping.
Speaker 6 (02:26):
Yeah, no, I was really happy.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
I think, you know, standards throughout the two four innings
were really good, really high. And that's something I always
prided myself on, is all keeping, and I put a
lot of time, what effort into it to be as
good as I can be. So to see it stand
up in a Test match was really cool.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
And you shared your debut of course with one of
your Cannibury teammates, Michael Ray, combined for a couple of
wickets called Hey Bold Ray. How special was that for
the two of you?
Speaker 6 (02:53):
Yeah, it was really cool.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
It was really nice to sort of have someone else
going through similar sort of emotions and stuff throughout the
Test match, and it was really cool to share that
milestone with him. And it was just really impressive to
see him go about his work and how much it
out there. It was just really energizing his spells and
was really cool to see him get some rewards.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
I know wicket keepers have a particular role in terms
of keeping the energy high within a playing group, even
on debut, Mitch, did you feel that you were able
to do that, you know, to bring some energy even
though you know you were playing your first Test match?
Speaker 6 (03:30):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I think like a couple of things help with that,
as obviously I play with almost all the guys before,
which helps, but also I think just having that just
genuine excitement out there myself would have rubbed off on others.
But there's also stuff just around getting to the stumps
each bog and throws back in from the field, which
I think lifts.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
Everyone and keeps the stand is really high.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
So that was something I tried to pride myself on
and keep constant throughout the beginnings.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
All right to the batting innings, then going along quite nicely.
At one seventeen for two, all of a sudden a
couple of quick wickets one seventeen for four and you're in.
You walk out to join our or Mitchell. So what
sort of initial conversations are you having at that point?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Yeah, me and Darrell battered a bit together, so you know,
he was just pretty calm out there, and I guess
the game situation in a way in rebul cricket doesn't
dictate too much how you bat. You know, I'm going
to follow my game plan pretty similarly whether we're going
really well or not so well. So we were just
pretty clear in our game plans and trying to trying
to build a partnership together and work together and keep
(04:33):
our communication nice and higher so we keep each other
accountable and nice and calm. And that was the cool
thing that we're able to build a bit of a
partnership and work towards sort of climbing into that deficit.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
I know the formats are very different, but how much
does your red ball batting game plan differ from when
you're playing and batting in white ball cricket.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Well, I think the cool thing about RedBull cricket is
almost every time I go on bat, I can play
the same way that I want to, and I can
be really select with bout balls I want to score.
Speaker 6 (05:01):
Off, and I think sometimes in white.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Bull cricket, batting in the lower to mid order sort
of dictated to about how you have to play.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
So I think it's really nice.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
I've been able to have a pretty consistent game plan
that I've been able to sort of learn and trust
after my first class games for Canterbury and New Zealand
and stuff, so it's just yeah, it's just simplified, I
think compared to the white ball game plans.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
And did you feel pretty comfortable straight I mean it
looked like it. Did you feel pretty comfortable straight away
out there with the bat?
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (05:30):
I think once I got off the mark, I felt
a bit more comfortable.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
True.
Speaker 6 (05:33):
Yeah, that second ball was nice.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
It's a sneak ay single and I think the heart
rate dropped a bit after that, so yeah, I think
once I got through that, I was pretty calm. Pretty yeah,
I'm pretty confident that that I could do a job
out there, which was.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Cool and a fifty on test day but terrific stuff.
I saw some lovely foot of Gymum and dad up
in the ra van stand when you brought your fifty up.
How special a moment was it to have them there
to you know, to watch on.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
Yeah, it was really cool.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
They are were there every day, so it was great
to be able to share it with them. They've been
massive supporters of me and I couldn't thank them enough
for how much they given me growing up, So it
was really cool that they could be there to experience
it with me, I guess, and he has a really
cool but a footage that was captured wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Were you but goutt to get out when you did
couple of polls for four but then caught in the
deep trying for another one.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Yeah, yeah, no, definitely. I wasn't happy. Yeah, it's one
of those things. I had a plan to keep it
down and then I actually couldn't hit that ball much
better and just ended up being too flat straight to
the guy. So yeah, pull SHOT's obviously a strength of mind,
but can also you know, get me out sometimes, which
is just part of the game. But here it was
a frustrating time to get out because I think me
(06:40):
and Glen could built something pretty big there. But yeah,
that's cricket. I guess you're going to get out eventually.
It's just yeah, I could live with it if I'm
playing to my strengths.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Well in the end, it didn't matter. A comfortable, comprehensive
win win within three days. So it sounds as though
Tom Blundle may return from injury for the Third Test,
starting on Thursday at bay Oval. Do you feel, though
much as though you've done all you can to you know,
to make the selectors make a decision.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yeah, I guess that was my plan, just to go
out there and do as well as I could for
the team, and if I cause some selection headaches, that's that's,
you know.
Speaker 6 (07:17):
I guess I'm doing my job. But Tom's done so
so well. Think he's gone for such a long.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Time and he's been really good to me personally, So yeah,
I think he's, yeah, looking like he might be might
be good to go for the third one. So that's
pleasing for him that he's been able to recover quickly
from his injury.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Are you happy to be I don't know, aggressively patient
with this, you know, to to wait for the next
opportunity in the test side to come along.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Yeah, I guess.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I just keep doing what I can do, and when
I get opportunities to try to take them and just
keep trying to improve as a player, I guess. So
that's a cool thing for me. I'm just still trying
to get better and learn as much as I can.
And it's been really cool to be a part of
this test squad for you know, ten days or so
and pick the brains of some of the guys that
have played a lot more than me, so it's been
been a really cool learning experience as well. So yeah,
(08:05):
happy just to keep she keep trying to get better
and when I do get my chances, hopefully take.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Them absolutely well. And just on your the contact that
you have in camp with Tom Blundell, who you know
it's played a lot of test cricket, is that a
good relationship You come in you feel you can immediately,
you know, sort of pick his brains and soak up
his experience in the Black Camps camp.
Speaker 6 (08:28):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
We've worked together a bit in the past and winter
camps and stuff, and he's been really good to work with,
really cool to to sort of watch and go about
his work and ask questions of and stuff. So yeah,
it's been He's always been really good to me, really
open and honest with his sort of with his learnings
and experiences he's had.
Speaker 6 (08:43):
So yeah, he's been really good to man. And it
was no different this week either.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Did you know that it was your responsibility as keeper
to book the limousine for the traditional bowler's trip up
Mount Vicar after a test winn in Wellington?
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Yeah, I had heard whispers about that, but that was
a great great trip up there. It was really cool
to get there. Everyone who had Bold and the keeper together.
It was a pretty pretty good evenings vi fare. We
had a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Did the limousine break down Yeah.
Speaker 6 (09:11):
Yeah, overheadd up top.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Michael Rays a bit of a car guy and he
was trying to be helpful.
Speaker 6 (09:16):
But now we got back down in the end, so
all was all good. Test.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Yeah, what a cool way to wrap a very very
good test. Went all right, So on to bay Oval
now we wait to see what happens their selection wise.
Mitch terrific mate. I mean, it's just awesome to have
you out there. It's been a long time since we've
had a different wicket keeper in test crickey. You've probably
picked up on this b Ja Watland for Ages then
Tom Blundell. So great to see you on debot mate.
All the best for what lies ahead across the summer
(09:40):
and thanks as always for taking the time for.
Speaker 6 (09:42):
A chat alights it all. Thanks having me, no, thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
For joining us much. Mitch. Hey, there test a boot
in the week past at the Basin Reserve and did
all he could really didn't he, you know, to stake
his claim. There's been I note quite a bit of
conversation around what will happen in the Third Test at
bay Oval starting on Thursday. You might have heard Gavin
Larsen on the show yesterday with this black Caps selector.
(10:08):
I asked him about the selection decision now between Mitch
Hay and a returning Tom Blundell.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
Everything he did at the base and reserve to me,
it spoke to his class as innings was a very
very good one and that was that was in trying conditions.
That base and reserve pict had quickened up on day
two and Mitch showed really good determination and commitment with
his batting.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
So that was Mitch Hay. But what about Tom Blundell.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
Yes, he's been a bit light on runs, but we
also believe that he's a class player and formers temporary,
class is permanent. Tommy's going to be back on the park.
He will need to provide the performances. We've got a
lot of cricket coming up that will be keeping an
eye on Tommy and on Mitch ha.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
So there you go. So and Luke Ronkey did some
media yesterday as well, black Caps batting coach, and he
talked about Tom Blundell and his state of readiness for
the Third Test.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
So he's been training fully, been running, been batting, been keeping,
so his hamstring injury had been own read there really well.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
So he's coming back in. I don't think, you know,
they're not even trying to suggest anything else. And you know,
I actually don't mind that. I don't mind that they're
letting us know what's going on. Tom Blundell has been
Test wicket keeper for a very long time. He took
over after BJ Watling retired and was that after the
Test Championship win twenty twenty one. Yes, So Tom Blundell
(11:27):
has been the regular wicket keeper in this Test side
for four coming up five years, and I honestly believe
he deserves the opportunity to come back into the team.
He wasn't dropped. He was injured in the Test match
in christ Church. He's over that injury and so he
comes back. In the opposite view to that is that
(11:48):
if you come into a team and you play well,
that you should keep your place. So that is the
balancing act for Gavin Larsen, for Tom Latham, for Rob Walter,
those who make these decisions about what happens in the
Third Test. It has been I mean everybody who has
been quoted on the record. We've heard Davin Larson, We've
heard Luke Ronky. Daryl Mitchell said the same thing Tom
(12:09):
Latham as well during the Wellington Test match that when
Tom Blundele's fit, he comes back in and again. I
don't mind that. I don't mind it as a philosophy
of loyalty. Sometimes it can be overplayed, but I think
in this case it's the right decision. And let's not
concern ourselves too much with Mitch Hay's international future. I
(12:31):
think we can all see that he is going to
play a heck of a lot of cricket for New
Zealand in all three formats. Remember the ninety nine he
got who was that against last summer Pakistan? Ninety nine
off seventy odd balls of twenty two off the last
over or something. The guy can bat and first class
cricket average is nearly fifty. He's a good wicket keeper.
(12:51):
He's the next one coming in. Luke Ronky actually had
some advice for Mitch Hay. He had to wait as well,
Luke Ronkey for his chance to make a Test debut.
So what's his advice to Mitchay?
Speaker 4 (13:06):
It's about going out and enjoying what you're doing, and
then you understand the situation. You understand that you sort
of have to wait. Sometimes it can be frustrating, but
he did everything he could out there for us. He
obviously made some good runs. Cat Well had high energy.
So you can ask if someone coming in.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
So that's Luke Ronkey, Chris says on text, and it's
a great point. Same thing happened to Tom Blundell. Remember
he got one hundred on debut when bj Watland was injured.
Then Watland came back in. It's a Tom Blundell. I
think it went through exactly the same thing being on
Chris test debou bas In Reserve, looking up at his
old school of Wellington College and scored one hundred and
then famously I think either walked home or got the
(13:43):
bus home still wearing his whites. Maybe back to the hotel.
Maybe that urban myth has been expanded. But yeah, I
like the idea of it, and I think Tom Blundell
has earned over his test career the opportunity to continue it.
I think he'll come back in for the third Test.
He'll be first choice for England mid year India back
(14:05):
here summer and then Australia, and who knows that might
be it for Tom Blundele and then Mitchey can come
in and make Hay pardon the pun.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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