Cricket: Black Cap Tom Blundell scores century on debut for New Zealand against West Indies

Tom Blundell celebrates his century. Photo / Getty

During his Wellington College days, Tom Blundell would look out over the Basin Reserve across the world's biggest cricket roundabout and dream.

"I had countless times dreaming I'd play for New Zealand and at the Basin, on my home ground," he said tonight as he reflected on achieving a special distinction in New Zealand cricket.

As the first New Zealand wicketkeeper to score a century on test debut today, an unbeaten 107, he could be forgiven if he had the odd glance up toward the Mount Victoria tunnel alongside the college and remembering those formative days.

He admitted today's events "haven't really sunk in".

"I always visualised me doing that in the past, but it was a relief.

"There were a lot of family on the bank. It's a proud day for all my family to be there, that's pretty special."

It's also worth remembering the 27-year-old only took up wicketkeeping seriously after playing under 19 representative cricket as a batsman/spinner, but then thought ahead.

He wasn't a total stranger to keeping and future international keeper Luke Ronchi was at Wellington.

"I saw an opportunity with Ronks coming over, and the way I saw it he was going to play for New Zealand and there was no real backup.

"So I donned the gloves, got a chance keeping for Wellington A, then with Wellington and never looked back."

Blundell, who now has five first-class centuries and an average of 41.2, didn't feel particularly nervous as he got to the nineties, and had high praise for last man Trent Boult, with whom he shared a record 78-run stand for the last wicket.

"He showed some determination and guts. It was quite cool to bat with him," Blundell added of a teammate who has form for helping partners get across milestones in the past.

Blundell looked a touch edgy, reluctant to take on spinner Roston Chase despite a close set field, as the West Indies bowlers made him work for the last couple of runs.

He was poking about searching for the last piece in the puzzle, wondering if he should chance his arm, when Boult came down the pitch.

"He said "maybe go over the top". In the end I tried and shanked one through square leg and luckily (found a gap)."

Starting the day at 57 he had no thoughts of a century. Looking up at the board and seeing 85 he sensed a chance.

Regular test keeper BJ Watling got 115 for Northern Districts today but could face a race to be fit for the second test starting in Hamilton next Saturday. Blundell's tenure may extend longer than first anticipated.

New Zealand's centurymakers on test debut:
Jack Mills 117 v England, Basin Reserve, 1930
Bruce Taylor 105 v India, Kolkata, 1965
Rodney Redmond 107 v Pakistan, Eden Park, 1973
Mark Greatbatch 107 not out v England, Eden Park, 1988
Mathew Sinclair 214 v West Indies, Basin Reserve, 1999
Lou Vincent 104, v Australia, Perth, 2001
Scott Styris 107 v West Indies, Grenada, 2002
Kane Williamson 131 v India, Ahmedabad, 2010
Hamish Rutherford 171 v England, Dunedin, 2013
Jimmy Neesham 137 not out, v India, Basin Reserve 2014
Tom Blundell 107*, v West Indies, Basin Reserve, 2017