Blair Tickner is the 33-year-old New Zealand fast bowler who spent seven years as a reliable domestic workhorse before two November days in 2026 made him famous in a way no bowler expects. On 4 November, batting at number 11 against India at Eden Park, he smashed 34 off 23 balls — including four sixes — to finish as New Zealand’s top scorer. Three days later in Wellington, a bouncer from Anshul Kamboj struck him on the helmet and ended his series.
A right-arm medium-fast bowler for Central Districts and the Black Caps, Tickner has played in all three formats, taken a first-class hat-trick, and twice been named his domestic side’s player of the year. Away from the game he runs a café in Hastings with his wife Sarah.
| Full Name | Blair Marshall Tickner |
| Age | 33 years old (born 13 October 1993) |
| Height | 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm, as listed by SportsVirals, CREX and HamariWeb; other sources list 5 ft 11 in or 6 ft 3 in — see FAQ) |
| Birthplace | Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Cricketer (right-arm medium-fast bowler) |
| Known For | Four sixes as No. 11 vs India (4 Nov 2026); concussion stand-down after the 2nd ODI (7 Nov 2026); Central Districts fast bowler |
| Net Worth 2026 | Not publicly disclosed (see Net Worth section below) |
Early Life
Blair Marshall Tickner was born on 13 October 1993 in Napier, in the Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand’s North Island. He came through Hawke’s Bay age-group cricket before joining Central Districts, the first-class side that covers the lower North Island.
Tickner made his first-class debut for Central Districts against Auckland at Napier in March 2015. His breakthrough came in November 2017, with a hat-trick in the first innings of a Plunket Shield match against Wellington. That same summer he finished as the leading wicket-taker in the 2017-18 Super Smash, New Zealand’s domestic Twenty20 competition, with 21 wickets in 11 matches, and in June 2018 he was awarded a Central Districts contract for the 2018-19 season.
Career
Tickner was named in New Zealand’s T20I squad for the home series against India in January 2019, and made his debut on 10 February 2019 at Hamilton, becoming cap 82.
That debut finally arrived on 29 March 2022, against the Netherlands at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, when Tickner became ODI cap 202. He had already been named in the Test squad for the home series against South Africa in February 2022, and was picked for the tour of England that May. He made his Test debut on 16 February 2023 against England at Mount Maunganui, becoming cap 285, and took four wickets in the match, then eight more in two Tests against Sri Lanka.
Through the mid-2020s Tickner settled into the role of a dependable squad bowler, trusted whenever injuries opened a door. He also spent two seasons in English county cricket with Derbyshire, in 2024 and 2025, where his family lived during the 2024 season. Central Districts named him their Player of the Year for both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, as reported by Open Magazine. His statistics to 7 November 2026, as listed by ESPNcricinfo: 6 Tests, 22 wickets at 27.45, best 5 for 76; 20 ODIs, 29 wickets, best 4 for 34; 19 T20Is, 21 wickets; 93 first-class matches, 283 wickets at 33.44.
The Four Sixes Against India
Tickner’s most famous day came on 4 November 2026, in the first ODI of India’s tour at Eden Park in Auckland. New Zealand were in deep trouble at 146 for 9 in the 36th over, with Daryl Mitchell already back in the pavilion. Tickner walked out at number 11, the last man — and produced one of the more unlikely batting cameos in recent ODI history. He hit Gurnoor Brar for a clean six over long on, then took 19 runs off a single Arshdeep Singh over, smashing three more sixes. He finished on 34 off 23 balls, with one four and four sixes at a strike rate of 147.83 — the highest score on the New Zealand batting card that day, equalling the ODI record for the most sixes by a number 11 batter in an innings, a mark he now shares with Pakistan fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Naseem Shah, as reported by CricTracker. He also dismissed Gurnoor Brar with the ball, but New Zealand were bowled out for 185 and lost by five wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
Three days later, the story turned. In the second ODI at the Hnry Stadium in Wellington on 7 November, Tickner was struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Anshul Kamboj in the 41st over, and was bowled for 2 two balls later. At the innings break Matthew Fisher came into the side as his concussion substitute. New Zealand were bowled out for 134, and India won by four runs under the DLS method to take a 2-0 lead, with Jacob Duffy taking 3 for 35. Tickner was later cleared of concussion, but because he had been replaced in the playing XI, the ICC’s mandatory seven-day stand-down ruled him out of the third and fourth ODIs, and New Zealand called up Kristian Clarke as cover.
Personal Life
Blair Tickner is married to Sarah Tickner, and the couple have a daughter, Florence. They married in August 2022, and together they own and run the 13th Stag café in Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, which they opened in July 2019. He posts training and match updates under the handle @ticks93.
The family has faced a serious challenge in recent years. Sarah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a blood cancer, during the family’s stay in England in 2024, while Tickner was playing county cricket for Derbyshire. She was treated with chemotherapy and, as of late 2025, was in remission while still undergoing monthly treatment, as reported by SportsVirals and Open Magazine. His parents and wider family background have not been publicly reported.
Blair Tickner Net Worth 2026
Blair Tickner’s net worth in 2026 has not been publicly disclosed, and no reliable figure exists. Some biography websites publish an estimate of around $1 million, but it is unverified and is not repeated here as fact.
What is known is that Tickner earns a New Zealand Cricket contract and match fees for his Test, ODI and T20I appearances, along with his Central Districts domestic contract and his two seasons with Derbyshire. The values of those deals are not made public, so any net worth figure circulating online should be treated as guesswork. His café, the 13th Stag in Hastings, is a separate family business he runs with his wife.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Blair Tickner?
He is 33, born on 13 October 1993 in Napier, Hawke’s Bay.
How tall is Blair Tickner?
It is disputed: most commonly 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm), but other sources list 5 feet 11 inches or 6 feet 3 inches. Wikipedia and ESPNcricinfo list no height.
Who is Blair Tickner’s wife?
Sarah Tickner. They married in August 2022 and have a daughter, Florence. Together they run the 13th Stag café in Hastings, Hawke’s Bay.
What happened to Blair Tickner in the 2nd ODI against India?
On 7 November 2026 in Wellington, he was struck on the helmet by an Anshul Kamboj bouncer in the 41st over, bowled for 2 two balls later, and replaced by Matthew Fisher as a concussion substitute. Cleared of concussion, he must still serve the ICC’s mandatory seven-day stand-down, ruling him out of the next two ODIs.
How many sixes did Blair Tickner hit against India?
Four. In the first ODI on 4 November 2026 at Eden Park, batting at number 11, he scored 34 off 23 with four sixes — equalling the ODI record for a number 11 batter, shared with Mohammad Amir and Naseem Shah.
What is Blair Tickner’s net worth in 2026?
It has not been publicly disclosed. Online estimates exist, including one of around $1 million, but none is backed by verifiable reporting.
