Sports

New Zealand No.11 Blair Tickner Delivers 34 Runs, Including Four Sixes, to Rescue Team from 146/9

By Sunny K S

Blair Tickner, the 33‑year‑old fast bowler and café owner, walked out of the New Zealand camp with the side nine wickets down and then struck four sixes to lift the score from 146/9 to 185 all out in the opening One‑Day International in Auckland. His 34 runs from 23 balls, which included one four and four sixes, were the second‑highest score for New Zealand in the match. Only opener Tim Seifert, who made 38, scored more.

Tickner’s last‑wicket partnership with Jacob Duffy added 39 runs before Gurnoor Brar caught him off KL Rahul. The 24 runs from his four sixes were crucial in turning the game around.

Born in Napier on 13 October 1993, Tickner bowls right‑arm pace and plays domestic cricket for Central Districts. He has represented New Zealand in all three formats since 2019. Central Districts named him Central Stags Player of the Year for 2023–24 and 2024–25.

Outside cricket, Tickner and his wife Sarah opened 13th Stag café in Hastings in July 2019. The café, located at a sports park, serves coffee and food aimed at athletes and supporters.

Tickner’s Test debut was emotionally charged. Cyclone Gabrielle caused flooding in Hawke’s Bay before his first Test against England at Bay Oval in February 2023, destroying his father John’s house. After the match, New Zealand Cricket released Tickner and teammate Will Young to help with the clean‑up.

In 2024, Sarah was diagnosed with leukaemia while the family was in England. Tickner cut short his stint with Derbyshire to return to New Zealand for treatment. By August 2026, Sarah had completed treatment and the couple thanked supporters by giving away tiramisu at their café.

Tickner returned to Derbyshire for the 2025 season and was recalled to the New Zealand national side that same year. He took 4/34 and 4/64 in successive ODIs against England, earning Player of the Match in both. In June 2026 he was reinstated on New Zealand’s central contract list.

His international career began with a T20 debut against India on 10 February 2019, followed by an ODI debut against the Netherlands in March 2022 and a Test debut against England in February 2023. The recent innings in Auckland has drawn attention to his unexpected batting contribution from the No.11 position.