Young family behind decision to pull stumps
Time away from his young family, rather than the wear and tear of a long career, factored heavily into BJ Watling’s retirement decision.
The 35-year-old announced yesterday that he will step away from all cricket following the Black Caps’ tour of England in June. His last international outing is set to be the inaugural World Test Championship final against India at Southampton over June 18-22.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Watling will bow out as a New Zealand test great, holding the country’s test record for wicketkeeping dismissals (currently 257) and catches (249), which exclude 10 as a fielder. He also has eight test stumpings.
Making his test debut against Pakistan in 2009 as an opener, Watling has played 73 tests, 65 of them behind the stumps.
Recently becoming a father for the second time, being away from wife Jess and their young children was never easy and weighed on his mind.
‘‘I know the standards required to keep going at this game and the level and it’s tougher now with a little family at home. Things are busy,’’ Watling said.
‘‘I know it’s time now and I’m looking to other things and can spend a bit more time at home. It’s a bit harder to put all that focus into something just cricket.’’
Watling told his team-mates he would be stepping away from the game a couple of weeks ago after pondering his future during the home summer.
Despite having battled injuries in recent years, including a hamstring niggle which ruled him out of the first test against the West Indies in December, Watling said his body hadn’t made the call for him.
Watling planned to have a break with his family when he returns from England, but indicated a move into coaching was a long-term goal.
An astute reader of the game and veteran of the New Zealand test side, Watling has all the qualities to thrive in coaching.
‘‘It’s something I’m looking at,’’ Watling said of coaching.
‘‘The next six months or so I’ll just kind of wing it at this stage and I’ll start to look into what options I have after the game.’’
Watling will be remembered for his gritty demeanour, regularly getting the Black Caps out of trouble with the bat in the middle order and combining for crucial match-altering partnerships.
A reliable gloveman, he often put his body on the line to take diving catches off the fast bowlers.
He sits ninth on the all-time test dismissal list for wicketkeepers with 257 and could climb even higher with three matches left.
Long-time Northern Districts and New Zealand team-mate Tim Southee, who combined for 73 bowler-keeper catching test wickets with Watling, said he would leave a powerful legacy.
‘‘BJ sums up what you want in a team. He’s a guy you want in every side. He’s got those qualities you’re after from a teammate, but not only as a player, but as a person as well.
‘‘He’s a great guy to have around the group. He’ll do anything for this team.
‘‘He’s a man of few words, but his actions that everyone has seen over a long period of time sum up what BJ is about.’’
Watling’s test career was littered with fond memories. He identified New Zealand’s 2014 away test series win over the West Indies (their first away triumph against a top eight nation in 12 years) as a key milestone.
Just as meaningful was the 2018 tour to the United Arab Emirates, where the Black Caps triumphed against Pakistan 2-1 with a 123-run in the third and deciding match – their first away test series win over Pakistan in 49 years.
‘‘I still look back at one of our West Indies trips [in 2014] and for me that was the greatest trip of all time.
‘‘It was one of our first wins away for a while and it is a lovely place to tour. It was nice to beat them and start a bit of a theme for us and to start winning games.’’