Australia vs New Zealand: Kiwi batsman Tom Blundell to replace out-of-form Jeet Raval in Boxing Day Test

Melbourne: Reserve batsman Tom Blundell has been confirmed to replace the out-of-form Jeet Raval at the top of New Zealand’s batting order for the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

File image of Tom Blundell. Twitter @blackcaps

Blundell opened the batting for New Zealand on Sunday in a warm-up match against a Victoria state XI and made a timely unbeaten half-century before retiring.

Raval was jettisoned after twin failures in the 296-run defeat to Tim Paine’s Australia in the series-opener in Perth, following a poor home series against England.

“I feel like I can do a good job wherever,” two-Test wicketkeeper-batsman Blundell told reporters in Melbourne.

“This game I’ve been given the opportunity to open, so I’m really looking forward to Boxing Day,” he said.

Blundell batted at number eight in his three Test innings, which included a century on debut in Wellington.

“I’ll probably try to still bat the same,” he said of his promotion.

“It’s just the first 30 balls I’ll just have to be a bit more patient outside the off-stump, and if I can last those 30 balls, then hopefully I can bat a bit more positively,” he added.