BJ Watling, New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman has decided to retire from all forms of cricket. But not now. Watling has decided to take off his bat-gloves after next month’s ICC World Test Championship final in England.
Earlier in the next month, the 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman would also play in a 2-match Test series against England. The two Tests of the series against England will be played at Lord’s on June 2 and Edgbaston on June 10. The ICC World Test Championship final will be held in Southampton from June 18.
Watling said in a statement issued by the New Zealand Cricket Board, “This is the right time. It is a great honor to play for New Zealand and especially to wear the Test cap. The apex of this game is Test cricket. I enjoyed every time on the field with my teammates in the whites. I’ve played with some great players, made some great friends. I have received a lot of help for which I will be forever grateful. I will miss the thrill of the five days’ game.”
He added: “Jess, my wife has supported me throughout. I want to spend more time with her and my children. I am indebted to my mother for giving me the right direction very quickly and for always being by my side. Although I am announcing my retirement before the tour of England, my focus is on the next 3 Tests. I am getting ready to perform there.”
Watling made his international debut in November 2009 with a T20 against Pakistan in Dubai; he scored a flood of runs in domestic cricket from 2006 to 2009. He made his Test debut in December of the same year and his opponent in Napier was Pakistan. He made his ODI debut in August 2010 against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.
Watling has played 73 Tests so far in his nearly a decade-long career. He has played 65 matches as a wicketkeeper-batsman. 3381 runs are there next to his name at an average of 39.77. No other New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman has such a good average and so many runs.
Besides, no other Kiwi wicket-keeper has more dismissal (257) behind the wickets than him. He has also taken 10 catches in 8 matches that he played only as a batsman. In all, he scored 3773 runs in 73 matches. Where there are 8 centuries, 205 run-innings is the highest in his career.
In other words, if all goes well, Watling will play only 3 more Tests in his career. According to him, this is the right time to retire. Arguably, Watling is bidding farewell to Test cricket as the best wicketkeeper-batsman of all time in his country’s history.
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