Tom Puna

Tom Puna
Puna in 1962–63
Personal information
Full name
Narotam Puna
Born(1929-10-28)28 October 1929
Surat, British India
Died7 June 1996(1996-06-07) (aged 66)
Hamilton, New Zealand
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm off-break
Relations
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 111)25 February 1966 v England
Last Test11 March 1966 v England
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1956/57–1968/69Northern Districts
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class
Matches 3 70
Runs scored 31 1,305
Batting average 15.50 14.66
100s/50s 0/0 0/2
Top score 18* 62*
Balls bowled 480 15,053
Wickets 4 229
Bowling average 60.00 24.44
5 wickets in innings 0 11
10 wickets in match 0 0
Best bowling 2/40 6/25
Catches/stumpings 1/– 36/–
Source: Cricinfo, 1 April 2017

Narotam "Tom" Puna (28 October 1929 – 7 June 1996) was a New Zealand cricketer who played in three Test matches in 1966.

Life and career

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Puna's family migrated from India to New Zealand when he was eight.[1] He was a fixture in the Northern Districts side from 1956–57 to 1968–69, beginning as a middle-order batsman but descending the order as his off-spin bowling developed. His best innings figures were 6 for 25 against Otago in Hamilton in 1966–67 (match figures of 59–29–66–9).[2] When he retired he was Northern Districts' leading wicket-taker, with 223.[1] He also played Hawke Cup cricket for Waikato from 1949 to 1970.[3]

Puna took 34 wickets at 13.70 in the Plunket Shield in the 1965–66 season,[4] and was selected as New Zealand's principal spinner in all three Tests against the visiting England team later that season.[1]

His sons Ashok[5] and Kirti[6] also played for Northern Districts.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Wisden 1997, p. 1413–14.
  2. ^ Northern Districts v Otago, 1966–67
  3. ^ "Hawke Cup Matches played by Tom Puna". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  4. ^ Plunket Shield bowling averages, 1965–66
  5. ^ Ashok Puna at Cricket Archive
  6. ^ Kirti Puna at Cricket Archive
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