BJ Watling

New Zealand|Wicketkeeper Batter
BJ Watling
INTL CAREER: 2009 - 2021
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Full Name

Bradley-John Watling

Born

July 09, 1985, Durban, South Africa

Age

38y 254d

Batting Style

Right hand Bat

Fielding Position

Wicketkeeper

Playing Role

Wicketkeeper Batter

A right-handed opening batsman and part-time wicketkeeper, Bradley-John Watling spent his early years in Durban, South Africa, before moving to New Zealand as a ten-year-old. He was part of the Under-19 squad for the World Cup in Bangladesh in 2003-04 before making it to the Northern Districts squad. He was the second-highest run-scorer for his state team in his third season (2006-07) with 564 runs at 37.60. He was in prime form during the one-day State Shield competition in 2008-09 with 509 runs at a stunning 63.62 and that helped him earn a place in the New Zealand one-day squad for the ODIs in the UAE against Pakistan.

In 2010, after Brendon McCullum decided to keep wicket for New Zealand only in the ODIs, Watling emerged as the best long-term prospect for New Zealand in Tests, among contenders like Gareth Hopkins, Reece Young and Kruger van Wyk. Between 2009 and 2012, he played only eight Tests - the first six as a specialist batsman - before settling into the role of New Zealand's full-time wicketkeeper for the longer format in 2013.

Apart from being tidy behind the stumps, Watling's batting has also been impressive. Against India in February 2014, Watling and McCullum put together a record sixth-wicket partnership of 352 in Wellington. Watling's 124 in that Test was his first century against a top-eight nation. On the tour of West Indies, Watling's battling 66 and his 99-run partnership with Mark Craig delayed a West Indies win in Port-of-Spain. His efforts prompted McCullum to state that Watling was becoming one of his favourite cricketers.
ESPNcricinfo staff

BJ Watling Career Stats

Batting & Fielding

FormatMatInnsNORunsHSAveBFSR100s50s4s6sCtSt
Tests7511716379020537.52889442.6181942982678
ODIs2825257396*24.9183868.3705583200
T20Is54038229.505865.51003030
FC178297361003420538.442260844.381859--45010
List A133125144181145*37.66566873.76828--1073
T20s6760912557524.601152108.940610917363

Bowling

FormatMatInnsBallsRunsWktsBBIBBMAveEconSR4w5w10w
Tests75------------
ODIs28------------
T20Is5------------
FC178-594022/312/3120.004.0629.5000
List A133-000-----000
T20s67------------
Bradley-John Watling

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Test
ODI
T20I

Recent Matches of BJ Watling

MatchBatBowlWktDateGroundFormat
New Zealand vs India1--2c/0s & 3c/0s18-Jun-2021SouthamptonTest # 2425
New Zealand vs England1 & 15*--3c/0s & 0c/0s02-Jun-2021Lord'sTest # 2422
Northern Dis vs Otago0 & 4----03-Apr-2021DunedinFC
Northern Dis vs Wellington8*----27-Mar-2021WellingtonFC
Northern Dis vs Wellington23 & 110/1--18-Mar-2021Mount MaunganuiFC

Photos of BJ Watling

New Zealand's bowling unit (left to right), Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme, pose with the WTC mace
BJ Watling and Kane Williamson soak in the victory
New Zealand's 15 for the WTC final with their prize: (front L to R) Ajaz Patel, BJ Watling, Devon Conway, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Tom Latham, Trent Boult, (back L to R), Will Young, Tom Blundell, Matt Henry, Henry Nicholls, Kyle Jamieson, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme
In his final day in Test cricket, BJ Watling took three catches to go past MS Dhoni on the list of keepers with the most catches
The retiring BJ Watling took a painful blow to the finger on the sixth morning and needed treatment
New Zealand get together after Trent Boult and BJ Watling combine to see the end of Ajinkya Rahane