New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman BJ Watling to retire from all forms of cricket after WTC final vs India

New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman BJ Watling will be retiring from all forms of cricket after the World Test Championship (WTC) against India in June in Southampton. Watling, who is currently one of the best keeper-batsman in the world in the longest format of the game, will be hanging his boots after playing three more matches in his career.

Popularly known as 'New Zealand of New Zealand' (underrated player of an underrated side), Watling made his debut for New Zealand in 2009 in a T20I against Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium. Even though he got to play only 5 matches for the Blackcaps in the shortest format, Watling made his name in the whites for New Zealand.

Born in South Africa and having made his journey to New Zealand when he was just 10 years old, Watling made out a pretty successful and long career as one of the more solid batsmen in Kiwis' middle-order batsman and one of the best glovemen they ever had.

The curtain is set to come down on the career of one of New Zealand’s most widely respected cricketers, with wicket-keeper @B_Jwatling to retire from all cricket after the upcoming Test tour of England. #ENGvNZ #WTC21 https://t.co/XZxj8MDB7X

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) May 11, 2021

Talking about his decision to call it quits on New Zealand Cricket's YouTube channel (NZC), Watling said, "I think if you told me after my first few Test matches, I don't know I was 24 or something and if you said you're going to play 70-odd Test matches and I'll make the World Test Championship (WTC) final, I would have said, yeah I'll definitely take that. Probably would have said you're dreaming actually.

"It's a good feeling to be able to play this long. I'll forward to three more Test matches and make sure that I'm still ready to go it'll be lovely to win a final," he added.

The 35-year old has represented the Blackcaps in 73 Tests, 28 ODIs and 5 T20I matches. Watling made his debut in Tests in 2009 against the same opposition, Pakistan at McLean Park in Napier. He started out as a designated wicket-keeper, but slowly started to show his batting prowess and soon he was the dependable Mr. Watling in the Kiwi middle-order.

Whether the team needed someone to dig deep from one end and take them to safer shores, or when they had piled up runs and needed quick runs, Watling was there, every single time.

Talking about a story from when he started playing, Watling said, "There are few stories in there but I am not much of a storyteller though, but I do remember Dan telling me once, he just said, make sure you don't be happy with playing just one or two Tests. Make sure, you kind of make a career out of it. From then on, it was a massive focus to try and make sure I had a decent career.

New Zealand will first be playing two Test matches against the hosts England starting June 2, followed by the WTC final starting on June 18.