Terming cricket as a team sport is almost a misnomer, for it remains individualistic at its very core. Once the game begins, it becomes a personal duel between the batsman and the bowler while the fielders act as the supporting cast.
It is only natural then that the flashy performers with several centuries or wickets to their names are elevated to stardom by the fans. When enough time has passed, it is the Virat Kohlis and Steve Smiths whose names will be etched more deeply in the memories of cricket aficionados.
On the other hand, there are several players who seem to fly under the radar despite playing their part for the team. They aren’t exactly the flashiest of players, though they end up chipping in with important contributions more often than not.
In this series, we look at some of these underrated and unheralded men whose contributions deserve more recognition than they currently get. New Zealand’s BJ Watling is our man in focus below.
BJ Watling
Age – 34
Tests – 70
Runs – 3658
Average – 38.50
Centuries – 8
Born in Durban in South Africa, Watling moved to New Zealand at the age of 10 before going on to represent the Blackcaps in the 2004 ICC U19 World Cup. Operating as an opener and a wicketkeeper in domestic cricket, Watling’s maiden forays in the New Zealand Test squad came as a specialist batsman.
With Brendon McCullum donning the gloves for the Kiwis, Watling was drafted in purely as a specialist batsman for his first six Test appearances. Despite an impressive 60 on his Test debut against Pakistan in 2009, it took the right-hander some time before he was able to establish a permanent claim in the red-ball squad. In fact, he was able to make just eight Test appearances for New Zealand across a period of four years.
McCullum’s decision to give up the gloves in 2010 proved to be the catalyst for Watling’s career which took off towards the end of 2012. An unbeaten ton against Zimbabwe at McLean Park meant that he became a mainstay going forward for the Kiwis. Since then, he has quietly gone on to establish himself as one of the most dependable wicketkeeper-batsmen in the Test format and has played several defining knocks over the course of 70 appearances.
Style
A man who rarely makes headlines, Watling’s defining trait is his ability to grit it out in the middle of the pitch. A reliable wicketkeeper behind the stumps, he is equally adept with the bat in hand. While he might not be the biggest hitter, Watling thrives on his ability to push the ball into the gaps and scamper across for quick singles and doubles.
As a batsman, he can blunt bowling attacks through grit and patience. Capable of spending long hours in the middle of the crease, Watling is the perfect complement to partner the more adventurous and free-flowing batsmen in the side. While the likes of McCullum, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor have milked most of the limelight in New Zealand’s rise as one of the best Test cricket-playing nations, Watling has performed an admirable role in several rearguard partnerships.
Coming in at No6 or 7 in the batting order, he has rescued the Kiwis from the brink on many occasions after a top-order wobble. What makes him tick is the fact that he can soak up all the pressure at one end, while his ability to consistently rotate the strike means that bowlers are not allowed to gain the upper hand.
His cricketing intelligence has shone through ever since he made his New Zealand debut, and he has proven to be an excellent successor to the contrastingly flamboyant McCullum.
“BJ is fast becoming my favourite cricketer. His strength of character and his fighting qualities. The guy never complains, gets on with the job, goes out there and keeps for a hundred-and-something overs and goes out and bats for seven hours trying to save a Test match for his country,” McCullum had once said of Watling.
It is an accurate assessment for a man who has registered seven tons for New Zealand as the designated wicketkeeper. Only Adam Gilchrist, Andy Flower and Les Ames have scored more Test centuries while handling wicketkeeping duties for their respective teams.
Defining performances
205 vs England, Mount Manganui (2019)
After England had put up a challenging total of 353 in the first-innings, New Zealand seemed to be on the back-foot at 127-4 with Williamson back in the pavilion. Watling, however, proved a tough nut to crack for the visitors in an innings where he became the first Kiwi wicketkeeper to slam a Test double ton.
In a 473-ball marathon vigil at the crease, Watling forged a match-winning seventh wicket partnership of 261 along with Mitchell Santner. The mammoth stand turned the game on its head, with New Zealand ending up with a total of 615 on their way to an innings victory.
105 vs Sri Lanka, Colombo (2019)
With New Zealand trailing 0-1 in the two-match series, the pressure was on the visitors in the final Test in Colombo. After bundling out Sri Lanka for 244 in the first innings, the Kiwis were starting to lose their grip at 126-4.
Watling walked in to turn the tide in the visitors’ favour once again, by registering a fine unbeaten ton. Playing the supporting act to perfection, he stitched together vital partnerships with Tom Latham and Colin de Grandhomme to put New Zealand in front.
It turned out to be another match-winning display as the Kiwis levelled the series with an innings victory.
142 vs Sri Lanka, Wellington (2015)
After being bowled out for 221 in the first innings, New Zealand were staring down the barrel as Sri Lanka took a vital 136-run lead in Wellington. Matters were further compounded after the hosts were reduced to 159-5 in the second innings, with Sri Lanka sniffing a rare win in New Zealand.
However, Watling once again performed an impressive rearguard action to come to his side’s rescue. Putting on an unbeaten 365-run stand for the sixth wicket with Williamson, Watling played a decisive hand in a 142-run knock.
Content to take the backseat while Williamson romped his way to a double ton, the wicketkeeper showed the value of his gritty technique to put New Zealand on course for an innings victory.
124 vs India, Wellington (2014)
New Zealand’s 40-run victory in Auckland put them 1-0 ahead in the two-match series, but the Indians came storming back in the final Test in Wellington. A poor first-inning showing from the hosts saw India snatch a commanding 246-run lead and things only went from bad to worse in the second innings.
Zaheer Khan’s early salvo had reduced the Kiwis to 94-5 in the second innings, before Watling walked in to save the day once again. Brendon McCullum’s swashbuckling triple century might have taken all the plaudits in the end, though it was Watling’s determined show at the other end that allowed the New Zealand captain to thrive.
He blunted the Indian attack in a 367-ball innings while allowing McCullum to go after the bowling at the other end. The duo’s 352-run stand allowed the hosts to hold on for a draw and clinch the series in the process.
