BJ catches up with record
How fitting that BJ Watling broke a New Zealand test record with a catch on his home ground that clinched the Black Caps victory after a long day of toil in the field in Hamilton.
Tim Southee was the bowler, Bangladesh debutant Ebadot Hossain was the victim, and Watling was the safe pair of hands behind the stumps for his 202nd dismissal for the Black Caps as a test wicketkeeper.
The catch took the 33-year-old past Adam Parore’s record (201) for most wicketkeeper dismissals for New Zealand in tests after first wearing the gloves in a test in Napier against Zimbabwe in January, 2012.
More than seven years later, Watling is firmly established as one of the most reliable keepers in test cricket, with a handy batting average of 37.65 in 60 tests, and he’s become invaluable to the Black Caps after starting his international career as an opener.
At Seddon Park on Sunday, Watling’s fifth catch of the first test against Bangladesh wrapped up New Zealand’s comprehensive victory as they won by an innings and 52 runs.
‘‘It’s been a bit of toil for the last six or seven years, but I’m proud of the achievement and hopefully there are more to come,’’ Watling said.
‘‘It was nice to finish after a tough day out there. The boys toiled away and we got the rewards at the end.’’
Watling matched the record on Saturday when catching the dangerous Tamim Iqbal (74) off Southee in Bangladesh’s second innings of 429 all out.
The Black Caps ripped up records to post their highest test total when declaring on 715-6 after Kane Williamson’s second double century, the lead then 481, but Bangladesh launched a fourth day fightback with dazzling centuries to Soumya Sarkar (149) and Mahmudullah (146).
Eventually, the tourists collapsed in losing their final six wickets for 68 runs and Watling had the final say.
He made his Black Caps debut as a wicketkeeper in a Twenty20 against Pakistan in Dubai in November, 2009. His first test outing was as an opener against the same opponents in Napier the following month.
But the South African-born right-hander, who moved to New Zealand aged 10 before rising through the ranks with Northern Districts, wouldn’t wear the gloves in whites for the Black Caps until Zimbabwe toured here in 2012.
Watling scored the first of his six test centuries in that match with an unbeaten 102 but he didn’t cement the wicketkeeper spot until 2013.
But no test match or particular moment stood out when he could recall feeling set as New Zealand’s test keeper.
Said Watling: ‘‘[Because] you’re switched on for every ball. They create the chances and I’ve managed to keep to five or six of the best bowlers we’ve ever had. That’s a pleasure.
‘‘There are definitely nerves throughout each and every game. Towards the end, you know you don’t want to put down a chance or make a mistake. I do remember a lot of dismissals but I like to look at how they influence the series or the match.’’
Watling will no doubt fondly remember the final Bangladesh wicket in the first test as he broke the national record with the Black Caps going 1-0 up in the series ahead of the second and third tests in Wellington and Christchurch.
‘‘We didn’t expect them to fall over and they have got some good players in their side,’’ he said of Bangladesh. ‘‘It was nice batting conditions out there and I thought we executed our plans well when a couple of them paid off nicely. But I thought we stuck at it to get the rewards.’’