A journalist once wrote, "If New Zealand is the team that do great things that barely get noticed in the wider cricket world, BJ Watling is the New Zealand of New Zealand."
Cricket isn't new to the fact that a player of one origin country playing for another country. When everyone witnessed New Zealand win over South Africa in the 2015 ICC World Cup Semi-final, the talk around was that a South African born 'Grant Elliot' has defeated South Africa while playing for New Zealand.
Bradley John Watling, known as BJ Watling is yet another South-African born New Zealand cricketer. Much like his stature, he has always given performances that went under the radar.
The Durham born Wicket-keeper Batsman has decided to retire from the sport after the upcoming tour of England which will end with the inaugural World Test Championship Final against India.
Of the three forms that are played internationally, Test Cricket has been the format where Watling has been most successful and consistent at.
He emphasized about the 5-day format in his announcement by saying, "It's been a huge honour to represent New Zealand and in particular wear the test baggy. Test cricket is really the pinnacle of the game and I've loved every minute of being out there in whites with the boys. Sitting in the changing rooms having a beer with the team after five days toil is what I’ll miss the most."
Watling, who modeled his batting after ‘Jonty Rhodes’ has until now scored 3773 runs at an average of 38.11 in 73 matches that he has played in the longest format. He has 1 double hundred to his name along with 8 centuries and 19 fifties mostly coming lower down the order at number 6 or 7 throughout his career.
The fascinating fact about his centuries is that each one has come in either a winning cause or has been pivotal to draw a game.
He was involved in two of the great partnerships for New Zealand – 352 runs with Brendon McCullum against India in 2014 and 365* with Kane Williamson against Sri Lanka in 2015 both coming at Basin Reserve.
The double hundred he scored against England in 2019 was one of his best innings ever seen according to his coach Gary Stead who also termed Watling as a ‘crucial cog’ in his team’s success in the longest format.
A Wicket-keeper is invariably an all-rounder of the team and BJ Watling has always been the one. He has 267 dismissals to his name which include 8 stumpings.
Along with he has also played 28 ODIs and 5 T20s for the Kiwis. The 35-year-old has a career-best ICC ranking of 12 as a Test Batsman.
Whenever the team required themselves to bail out of trouble he was their man for the job. He has hardly made a mistake behind the stumps and the quiet manner in which he goes about his batting business has made him one of the most underrated cricketers of this era.
Watling has the opportunity to play 3 more Test matches for New Zealand and the Black Caps team will be hoping for yet another silent and vital performance from their ‘Crisis Man’ especially in the WTC Final against India at The Rose Bowl.
