Watling in for a tough battle
BJ Watling’s test wicketkeeping future remains uncertain but New Zealand coach Mike Hesson is prepared to give him all of the next three months to prove his fitness for the England series.
The 32-year-old, a wicketkeeper in 44 of his 52 tests, was ruled out for a second successive test due to a niggly hip injury.
It saved Hesson an awkward discussion for Saturday’s second test against West Indies in Hamilton, and saw Tom Blundell retain the gloves after an outstanding debut including an unbeaten century in their innings-and-67-run victory in Wellington.
Hesson felt it was too dramatic to suggest Watling’s international wicketkeeping days were numbered. But the fact he only kept wicket in Northern Districts’ Plunket Shield opener in October and hadn’t taken the gloves for their next five matches ensured some worry lines.
‘‘It’s slow going. He had a break over winter and things were looking good. Keeping is tough on the body and he certainly feels it,’’ Hesson said.
‘‘[Surgery] is not an option, it’s just time and it’s going a little bit slower than we’d like. We’re hopeful he’ll play another couple of Ford Trophy games, have a little rest and come back after Christmas.’’
A scheduling quirk - for want of a better term - works in Watling’s favour for recovery time. After Hamilton, the next first-class match in New Zealand isn’t till March 1 when Plunket Shield resumes, and the next test isn’t till the day-nighter against England in Auckland on March 22.
Then, assuming Watling recovers, it’s a case of weighing up the impressive newcomer against the wily veteran, with Watling averaging 38 with the bat and snaring 171 catches and six stumpings in tests.
On the batting front they lose little with Blundell, who averaged 55 in Plunket Shield last summer and became New Zealand’s 11th centurymaker on test debut in Wellington with a best supporting batsman role from No 11 Trent Boult.
Said Hesson: ‘‘We’ve always shown a lot of confidence in the incumbents. BJ Watling has been a world class performer over a long period of time for us. Tom Blundell asked us a nice question and showed he deserves plenty more opportunities in time.’’
The Black Caps test side are difficult to be dropped from these days given selection loyalty, the team’s form on home soil and the thinning of the test programme which is undoubtedly frustrating for test specialists Watling, Neil Wagner and Jeet Raval. After this second test the Black Caps play 23 successive limited overs internationals before the England pink ball match in Auckland.
Going by the current Future Tours Programme, New Zealand will play seven tests in 2018: two against England in March, three against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in November and two against Sri Lanka at home in December.
Depending on Watling’s recovery they could bite the bullet and decide Blundell is the way forward with the gloves against England, or Pakistan.
But it wouldn’t mean the end for Watling, who began his test career as an opener before returning to wicketkeeping under coach John Wright.
Hesson said Watling - with six test centuries to his name - could potentially make the squad as a specialist batsman.
‘‘In the test side, absolutely. BJ’S record with the bat in recent times suggests that. At the moment he’s not even fit enough to take a full part in the field so he wasn’t considered as a batsman in this series.’’
Recovery time is on Watling’s side, but his hold on the test gloves is becoming increasingly tenuous as the rigours of the job kick in.