Black Caps v England: Blair Tickner revels in shock callup and a new nickname after starring role in Hamilton ODI
Friday, 31 October 2025
What: Third ODI, Black Caps v England. Where: Sky Stadium, Wellington. When: 2pm Saturday, live on TVNZ Duke and TVNZ+.
Blair Tickner’s mates coined a new nickname for him when he was summoned to the Black Caps this week, having not played international cricket since May 2023.
At that stage the 32-year-old looked highly unlikely to play in Hamilton, before he was a surprise late inclusion for an injured Matt Henry - and earned man of the match for his 4-34 in the hosts’ five-wicket win over England on Wednesday night.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself the last time I was around, and felt like I was playing for my position. Whereas this time, I feel like I’m not looking for anything bigger than a game of cricket,” Tickner told The Post, ahead of Saturday’s third ODI in Wellington.
“I just wanted to go out there and enjoy myself, and it took away all the nerves because I had no real pressure on me. I’m not thinking I’m going to get a long-term call-up, I’m just here to save the day. Some people call me Stephen Donald… I’m just here to help out,” he added with a laugh.
When one of his oldest mates from Hawke’s Bay likened him to Donald, Tickner thought it was quite fitting. ‘Beaver’ Donald was famously summoned from a whitebaiting trip by then-All Blacks coach Graham Henry amid a first five-eighth injury crisis, and kicked a vital penalty in their 2011 World Cup final win over France at Eden Park.
Henry’s calf strain - which will likely keep him out of Saturday’s tour finale - saw him join Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne on a lengthy fast bowlers’ injured list.
Tickner was whistled up from New Plymouth as cover for Jamieson, after taking 1-55 for Central Stags against Wellington Firebirds in the Ford Trophy on Saturday.
He was put up for media duties in Hamilton on Tuesday as his recent off-field nightmares got a re-airing - notably his wife Sarah’s leukaemia diagnosis (with some recent positive news), and a tearful press conference in February 2023 after making his test debut against England, when Tickner spoke of his father’s house in Hawke’s Bay being destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Still, there was no inkling he would play, so he headed off to Stags team-mate Josh Clarkson’s house on Tuesday night, match eve.
“I was on the barbecue and got a message that Henners had a calf niggle and I was playing. It came out of nowhere really, but a cool call to get.”
Cue all sorts of emotions as he shared the news with Sarah, who immediately made plans to travel to Hamilton and watch. Their two-year-old daughter, Florence, stayed behind in Taradale with her grandparents, Jeff and Jo Reid, two huge supporters of their son-in-law.
“She was watching after daycare and recognised me on the TV which was cool…
“It was amazing. It has been a rollercoaster these two years, and to get out the other side and having her there supporting me was a pretty special moment for us and the family.”
Sarah’s monthly chemotherapy treatment will continue until August next year but Tickner reports everything is tracking well.
Amid all this, Tickner laced up the boots at Seddon Park and went to work, game face on.
His first wicket was a prized one - the great Joe Root - which added to his list of top class international victims including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam and Harry Brook.
Not that it’s one Tickner wants to necessarily watch on the highlights, as Root on 25 tickled a leg stump offering to the safe gloves of wicketkeeper Tom Latham.
“Obviously to get his wicket is pretty special but it could have been a better ball. You remember the really big time wickets so I guess that’s one of them. But I won’t tell my kids how I got him out.”
He then showed his stellar death bowling qualities to remove Jamie Overton with a cross-seamer, and Brydon Carse with a pinpoint bouncer as England folded for 175 all out off 36 overs.
Life was pretty good as Tickner awoke on Thursday to fly to the capital and, almost certainly, his 15th ODI as the world No 2-ranked Black Caps chase an ODI series clean sweep.
Even better, plans were afoot for his parents-in-law to bring Florence to Wellington and cheer on dad from the stands for his first game at Sky Stadium, having run the drinks a few times and watched the Hurricanes play there in Super Rugby.
Tickner’s last international was in Pakistan in May 2023, three months before their daughter was born. “It’ll be nice to be around them all as a group,” he said.