Tom Puna

{{short description|New Zealand cricketer}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Tom Puna | image = File:Tom Puna.jpg | caption = Puna in 1962–63 | fullname = Narotam Puna | birth_date = {{birth date|1929|10|28|df=y}} | birth_place = Surat, British India | death_date = {{death date and age|1996|6|7|1929|10|28|df=y}} | death_place = Hamilton, New Zealand | family = {{ubl|Ashok Puna (son)|Kirti Puna (son)}} | international = true | country = New Zealand | testdebutagainst = England | testdebutdate = 25 February | testdebutyear = 1966 | testcap = 111 | lasttestdate = 11 March | lasttestagainst = England | lasttestyear = 1966 | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm off-break | club1 = Northern Districts | year1 = {{nowrap|1956/57–1968/69}} | columns = 2 | column1 = Test | matches1 = 3 | runs1 = 31 | bat avg1 = 15.50 | 100s/50s1 = 0/0 | top score1 = 18* | deliveries1 = 480 | wickets1 = 4 | bowl avg1 = 60.00 | fivefor1 = 0 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 2/40 | catches/stumpings1= 1/– | column2 = First-class | matches2 = 70 | runs2 = 1,305 | bat avg2 = 14.66 | 100s/50s2 = 0/2 | top score2 = 62* | deliveries2 = 15,053 | wickets2 = 229 | bowl avg2 = 24.44 | fivefor2 = 11 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 6/25 | catches/stumpings2= 36/– | date = 1 April | year = 2017 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/38134.html Cricinfo }} '''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== Puna's family migrated from India to New Zealand when he was eight.<ref name=WCA>Wisden 1997, p. 1413–14.</ref> 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).<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/28/28577.html Northern Districts v Otago, 1966–67]</ref> When he retired he was Northern Districts' leading wicket-taker, with 223.<ref name=WCA/> He also played Hawke Cup cricket for Waikato from 1949 to 1970.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hawke Cup Matches played by Tom Puna |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1280/Hawke_Cup_Matches.html |website=CricketArchive |access-date=26 September 2024}}</ref>

Puna took 34 wickets at 13.70 in the Plunket Shield in the 1965–66 season,<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/3/Plunket_Shield_1965-66/Bowling_by_Average.html Plunket Shield bowling averages, 1965–66]</ref> and was selected as New Zealand's principal spinner in all three Tests against the visiting England team later that season.<ref name=WCA/>

His sons Ashok<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/22/22702/22702.html Ashok Puna at Cricket Archive]</ref> and Kirti<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/22/22703/22703.html Kirti Puna at Cricket Archive]</ref> also played for Northern Districts.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{cricinfo|id=38134}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Puna, Tom}} Category:1929 births Category:1996 deaths Category:New Zealand Test cricketers Category:New Zealand cricketers Category:Northern Districts cricketers Category:Cricketers from Surat Category:Indian emigrants to New Zealand Category:New Zealand people of Indian descent Category:Sportspeople of Indian descent Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen