NEWS
Follow UsFormer New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling ended his Test career on an astonishing note. The 35-year-old featured in the World Test Championship final against India in Southampton and emerged victorious. The Black Caps defeated Virat Kohli's men by eight wickets and conquered the Test peak.
Having made his debut in 2009, Watling played 75 Tests and scored 3790 runs at an average of 37.52. The right-hander hit eight centuries and 19 fifties and emerged as New Zealand's 'Crisis Man' on many occasions. Watling has now been given the responsibility of looking after the ICC World Test Championship mace for the next fortnight.
"You could see that it meant a lot to the New Zealanders. You could kind of see the smiles on their faces underneath their masks and that everyone seemed to be pretty excited that we had managed to bring it home,” Watling told Stuff.co.nz.
New Zealand have become a force to reckon with in Test cricket and Watling has played a huge role in that. Watling was asked to present the players’ caps and speaking to the team ahead of the World Test Championship final.
"It just talks about teamwork and what it means to be involved in a team and that it's not just the team, it's about everyone involved. “We have a fantastic group of support staff and players and in this competition, the way it's worked out, there's been a number of players that have played games over the two-year period that weren't actually there, so it sort of just alluded to things like that."
Tom Blundell will now take Watling's place in the playing XI and the latter has full faith in the 30-year-old. "I think we all know Tom is prepared and ready to go. He's already scored two fantastic hundreds and in the game that he played against England over here, his keeping was excellent.
"It's not easy over here with the Duke ball moving around, and he did an outstanding job and took some excellent catches. I have full faith in Tom. I think he's hungry, and he's ready to go."