At a glance

65.81 with McCullum. He joined the latter two in triple-century stands against Sri Lanka and India in Wellington that remain third and fourth on New Zealand’s all-time partnership list.

Since the start of 2015 Watling’s test average is 41.45, third out of designated wicketkeepers behind Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim (45.68) and England’s Jonny Bairstow (43.17). Leading New Zealand test wicketkeepers:

Adam Parore:

67 tests, 2479 runs at

26.94, 2x100, 210 dismissals

BJ Watling:

49 tests, 2619 runs at

40.92, 5x100, 184 dismissals*

Brendon McCullum:

52 tests,

2803 runs at 34.18,

5x100, 179 dismissals

Ian Smith:

63 tests, 1815 runs at

25.56, 2x100, 176 dismissals

*As at the end of day two of the third test

Of the world’s top-10 keepers for dismissals only Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower (53.70), Australia’s Adam Gilchrist (47.60) and England’s Matt Prior (40.18) averaged better than 40.

It places Watling (now ranked 20th on dismissals) in rarefied air, in one of cricket’s most demanding jobs.

Boxing

GETTY IMAGES BJ Watling defied the Pakistan attack for 250 balls during his unbeaten 77 in New Zealand’s first innings in Abu Dhabi.