New Zealand’s Watling to retire after WTC final against India
AUCKLAND: New Zealand wicketkeeper batsman BJ Watling has announced he will retire from all Cricket following next month’s World Test Championship final against India in England.
The 35-year-old will call time on a career of 73 Tests and 28 one-day internationals following a two-match Test series against England and the inaugural WTC final at Hampshire’s Southampton headquarters.
“The time is right,” said Watling in a New Zealand Cricket statement issued on Wednesday.
“It’s been a huge honour to represent New Zealand and in particular wear the Test baggy.”
South Africa-born Watling, who moved to New Zealand as a 10-year-old, has taken 259 catches and completed eight stumpings in Tests, as well as being an effective batsman with 3,773 runs at an average of over 38, including eight hundreds, in the five-day game.
But Watling, who recently became a father for the second time, said bowing out next month was the correct decision.
“It’s the right time,” he said. “It’s been a huge honour to represent New Zealand and in particular wear the Test baggy (cap).
“Test Cricket really is the pinnacle of the game and I’ve loved every minute of being out there in the whites with the boys.
He added: “Siting in the changing rooms having a beer with the team ater five days’ toil is what I’ll miss the most.”
Watling, looking ahead to the Blackcaps trip to Britain, said: “Although I’ve had to make this announcement ahead of the tour to England, my focus is very much on the three Tests ahead and preparing to perform in them.
“This tour will be a challenge on a few levels and we know as a team we will need to be at the very top of our game if we want to succeed.”
INDIA SHOULD PLAY JADEJA,SAYS ASHWIN OJHA: Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin should both be playing in the WTC final for their prowess with the bat as much as their ability to take wickets, said Pragyan Ojha.
Ojha said that with India having no fast-bowling all-rounder in the squad, Jadeja in particular gives them an extra option in the bating order.
“They should play, both of them. Because both can bat, both have the experience of bowling on any track. The biggest plus point is Jadeja can bat up the order. The way he is performing. Mind you if you look at his domestic record, he’s got three triple hundreds. I think he can bat long and Ashwin has got international hundreds also. I feel if there’s a litle chance where you can play both the spinners, you should play. They have enough experience to win you games on any wicket,” Ojha told Sports Today.
“Overall, it’s a fantastic team. Even I was following Hanuma Vihari. Very thoughful of him to go and play some county cricket. You know you get acclimatised to the conditions. That’s very important,” he added.
Jadeja will be making his comeback to the Test team ater being sidelined in the second Test against Australia due to a finger injury. The injury forced him to miss the four-test series at home against England but he hit the ground running for Chennai Super Kings in the 2021 Indian Premier League.