Tom Blundell Creates History, Breaks 50-Year-Old Record During Four-Day Test vs Ireland

New Zealand's designated wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell created history during the ongoing one-off Test match against Ireland in Belfast. He made history on the second day of the four-day Test at Civil Service Cricket Club by shattering the 50-year-old mark for the highest individual score by a New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter in an away Test. In the historic Test match against Ireland, Blundell made 186 runs off 292 balls as a No. 6 batsman for the Tom Latham-led team, with 22 fours and 3 sixes. Most Runs By NZ's Wicketkeeper-Batter In Away Test Tom Blundell - 186 (2026) Warren Lees - 152 (1976) Brendon McCullum (2004) Brendon McCullum (2005) Adam Parore (2001) In the first innings of the ongoing game, Blundell scored 186 runs, which is 34 more than Warren Lees' 152.

In the first innings of the Karachi Test against Pakistan from October 30 to November 4, 1996, Lees made 152 runs for New Zealand as a designated wicketkeeper-batter. Most 100s By NZ's Wicketkeepers In Away Tests BJ Watling – 3 Brendon McCullum – 2 Tom Blundell – 2 Warren Lees – 1 Adam Parore – 1 Blundell's century against Ireland in the current Test is his second in an away Test for New Zealand as a wicketkeeper-batter. After BJ Watling and Brendon McCullum, he is just the third wicketkeeper-batter to record multiple hundreds for the Kiwis in away Test matches. Watling holds the record for the highest individual score by a designated wicketkeeper-batter for New Zealand in a Test match.

In the first innings of the 2019 Test at Mount Maunganui, Watling scored 205 runs for the Black Caps. Watling is also the only NZ wicketkeeper-batter to hit a double century in a Test match. After scoring 186 runs in the current match, Blundell is now ranked second overall. McCullum, who hit 185 runs in the first innings of the February 2010 Test against Bangladesh in Hamilton, comes next.

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