Watling sets sights on test series return
BJ Watling expects to be fit to face South Africa in the three- test series starting on March 8 in Dunedin.
The wicketkeeper- batsman has spent the last three weeks recovering from what he describes as a “sprained” right knee.
A fortnight’s rest and a cortisone injection after the Bangladesh test series saw him return to hitting and catching balls this week.
He returns to Plunket Shield action for Northern Districts next Saturday when the current leaders begin the second half of their four- day campaign against Otago in Whangarei.
“Everything i s going to plan,” Watling said. “I’m into rehab and will gradually load the knee up with more work.
“It’s been an ongoing niggle over the last year or so. It hasn’t been too bad, but it’s still frustrating.
“Hopefully the injection’s done the job. The knee tightens and stiffens every now and then, particularly at night, but I’ve had a good team working on it. It always feels pretty good the next day.”
Watling is under no illusion as to the graft required if New Zealand are to win a maiden test series against South Africa.
“They are world- class and know how to play well in most conditions. They don’t let you off the hook. The biggest challenge is whether we can survive what are sure to be tough periods.”
Since his promotion to Black Caps test wicketkeeper by former coach John Wright in January 2012 against Zimbabwe, Watling has excelled in the role.
The 31- year- old has kept in 41 of his 49 tests to clock 157 dismissals ( 151 catches and six stumpings) from 77 innings. During that tenure he has averaged 41 with the bat. Watling is fourth on New Zealand’s all- time dismissal aggregate list behind Adam Parore ( 201 from 121 innings), Brendon McCullum ( 179 from 95) and Ian Smith ( 176 from 109).
With 2.038 dismissals per innings, Watling has the highest ratio of any New Zealand wicketkeeper who has kept more than twice.
Watling reached another milestone this season when Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan edged Tim Southee down the legside for 59 in the first innings of the second test in Christchurch.
The Black Caps duo become the country’s most prolific wicketkeeperbowler dismissal combination. The 44th instance of ‘ c Watling b Southee’ overtook ‘ c Smith b Hadlee’. Rubel Hossain’s exit during the second innings took them to 45. Watling has taken an additional two catches off Southee as a fielder.