A batsman and leg-spinner, Blunt began his first-class career at 17 on Christmas Day 1917 for Canterbury against Otago at Christchurch, taking six wickets. He was a prolific batsman in domestic cricket throughout the 1920s. He was the leading run-maker in the 1922–23 season, scoring 583 first-class runs at an average of 53.00, helping Canterbury to win the Plunket Shield.[4] He moved from Christchurch to Dunedin in 1926.[5]
He played several representative matches for New Zealand against Australian and English teams in the days before New Zealand played Test cricket. When New Zealand made its first major overseas tour, to England in 1927, he scored 1540 runs at 44.00 and took 77 wickets at 25.29, and in recognition of these performances he was chosen as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1928.
Later career
In New Zealand's first Test, against England in Christchurch in January 1930, Blunt made more runs and took more wickets than any other New Zealander (45 not out and 7; 3 for 17 and 2 for 17) as New Zealand lost by 8 wickets.[6] He played in all of New Zealand's first nine Tests: four against England in 1929–30, three against England in 1931, and two against South Africa in 1931–32. His highest Test score was 96 against England at Lord's in 1931.[7]
Batting for Otago against Canterbury in Christchurch in 1931–32, Blunt made 338 not out at a run a minute[8] out of a total of 589 all out, in a match that Otago nevertheless lost. It was the highest first-class score by a New Zealander until Bert Sutcliffe beat it with 355 in 1949–50. Blunt also held the record as the highest-scoring New Zealand batsman with 7769 runs until Sutcliffe surpassed it in 1953.[9] Blunt's best first-class bowling figures were 8 for 99 for Otago against Auckland in Dunedin in 1930–31.[10]
After the 1931–32 season Blunt played no further cricket in New Zealand, but did appear in three first-class matches in England in 1934 and 1935. He played many minor matches for Sir Julien Cahn's XI in England from 1933 to 1938, and toured North America with Cahn's XI in 1933.[11]
After cricket
After retiring from first-class cricket, Blunt lived in England, where he was a successful businessman. He captained London New Zealand Cricket Club in its inaugural match in 1952 and remained a prominent member of the club. In his memory the Roger Blunt Award is given annually for services to the club.[12]
