Bradley-John Watling - Performance Watch

[leatherface58]

After trying a host of mediocre and downright awful keepers like Reece Young, Gareth Hopkins and Kruger van Wyk, we seem to have found a highly talented and gutsy performer in BJ Watling. A bit of thanks to the Saffers for that although he did he play all of his cricket for NZ. He seems to relish performing in tough situations as evidenced by his lone fightback in the disastrous test series in South Africa. He also performed outstandingly against India this year and helped save a match which seemed totally lost.

The best thing about Watling is his utter lack of presence. No one seems to know or care that he plays. They do concede that he is a good player but no one seems to really talk about him the way they talk about other players when he is way more dangerous than them. His overall stats after today's outstanding effort (Which may unfortunately go in vain) make for impressive reading:

Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
23	39	6	1269	124	38.45	2988	42.46	3	8	6	138	4

What is even more impressive is as a designated keeper after Macca gave up his gloves, his batting stats read something like this:

Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
16	25	4	1011	124	48.14	2314	43.69	3	7	5	106	3

In addition to these impressive batting stats, he is a very safe keeper as well making him a highly underrated utility for us. Long may he continue these performances and hopefully get some notice and respect.

 

[Mamoon]

He's a quality batsman and a solid WK as well. Have liked him since debut vs Pakistan in 2009. Really underrated.

Should bat for NZ in ODIs in the top order. Ronchi is trash and NZ don't need his power hitting. They have enough firepower anyway.

 

[Haz95]

Class wicketkeeper batsman to be fair...Far better than the overrated as far as tests are concerned. He comes @3 for me in terms of best WK test Batsmen(after Prior @2 and AB @1)

 

[leatherface58]

Class wicketkeeper batsman to be fair...Far better than the overrated as far as tests are concerned. He comes @3 for me in terms of best WK test Batsmen(after Prior @2 and AB @1)

What's common between AB, Prior and BJ?

Hint: You ain't getting any!

 

[Haz95]

What's common between AB, Prior and BJ?

Hint: You ain't getting any!

There's quite a few lol...
-White
-South African
-Non SCtal

I made the one I know you are thinking clear
you spoiled it by telling me about BJ in the OP lol

 

[Ahson8]

Very underrated player.

 

[Aman]

He's a quality batsman and a solid WK as well. Have liked him since debut vs Pakistan in 2009. Really underrated.

Should bat for NZ in ODIs in the top order. Ronchi is trash and NZ don't need his power hitting. They have enough firepower anyway.

Watling should be nowhere near the top order - we have Ryder, Guptil, Williamson and Taylor. As for WK batsmen, I'd take Ronchi over him because of his explosiveness down the order. Watling despite being the better batsmen doesn't fulfil the WK-batsmen role that we need in ODI's.

 

[Aman]

Batted superbly to see NZ A through to 347/6 after being 139/5 after 30 with a 71 ball 119.

Maybe he should be in the side ahead of Ronchi? [MENTION=95766]leatherface58[/MENTION] [MENTION=131138]Space Cat[/MENTION]

 

[Convict]

I not sure what Ronchi is doing playing international cricket.

He was a good player for WA sure but he's not international class even at his peak about 5-6 years back

 

[Energetic]

Is he from NZ? - NO!!!

Nobody cares about NZ Cricket. Cannot even bring in 100 crowd.

 

[leatherface58]

Is he from NZ? - NO!!!

Nobody cares about NZ Cricket. Cannot even bring in 100 crowd.

Well considering Saffers didn't fill the stadium in Kallis' retirement test, I don't think you have a leg to stand on. And that's if I consider you to be a Saffer fan. You are just a Bangla (paper) tiger fan who deserves to watch his team get blown away by Stuart "Steyn" Binny.

 

[leatherface58]

Batted superbly to see NZ A through to 347/6 after being 139/5 after 30 with a 71 ball 119.

Maybe he should be in the side ahead of Ronchi? [MENTION=95766]leatherface58[/MENTION] [MENTION=131138]Space Cat[/MENTION]

I would play Watling in ODI. Ronchi the hack is good for T20 for a couple of years. As it is we don't play all that many international t20s.

 

[Zero]

Batted superbly to see NZ A through to 347/6 after being 139/5 after 30 with a 71 ball 119.

Maybe he should be in the side ahead of Ronchi? [MENTION=95766]leatherface58[/MENTION] [MENTION=131138]Space Cat[/MENTION]

No doubt about it mate, far better than Ronchi.

 

[Haz95]

Bradley-John Watling

Ronchi sounds like a type of tree

 

[Pakistani_Legend]

Watling is a fantastic player. He should be in the team ahead of Ronchi.

 

[Haz95]

Batling is an underrated player for sure and has now moved to second for me since Priors finished. However the 'overrated' dhoni as I said above has changed and now am thinking he may be second.

 

[leatherface58]

What a champion cricketer!

Against India, Sri Lanka, England. You name the opposition and he has delivered .Even during our darker days in South Africa and Windies 2012, he stepped up.

 

[Ahson8]

What a champion cricketer!

Against India, Sri Lanka, England. You name the opposition and he has delivered .Even during our darker days in South Africa and Windies 2012, he stepped up.

Very underrated player.

 

[Ahson8]

Should play ODIs too.

 

[Zero]

Love this guy, what a player.

 

[Abhilash93]

Best wicket-keeper in the world atm ?

 

[Buffet]

Fantastic knock from him here.

 

[Space Cat]

Excellent keeper and an excellent test batsman in his own right.

Scores runs when the team needs it and has been part of two of the best matching saving/winning partnerships in test history at the Basin Reserve.

 

[cricketindiafan]

What a knock. Hopefully a match winning one.

Has been one of the biggest contributors in NZ's revival as a test side. And seems like a very likeable chap. No chirping from behind the wicket, no sledging a proper old fashioned gritty test cricketer.

 

[leatherface58]

As a side note, happy to see Ronchi as well proving critics wrong especially in this thread. Trash, not international class. What a comeback for the aging (Deux) statesman as well.

 

[DHONI183]

Bradley-John Watling

I rate Watling really a lot in Test cricket as batsman. Someone like Bairstow or even Sarfraz might be better and more consistent overall, but Watling´s strength lies in digging his team out of deep holes. Not to mention his contributions to two of the greatest partnerships in Test cricket, one with McCullum and one with Williamson, even today against South Africa his team was struggling a bit, being 193-5, and he responded with a fighting fifty.

He´s really under-rated and under-appreciated I feel.

 

[Hasan123]

No doubt he is underated. Also he is very gutsy and a fighter. Very good cricketer.

 

[Citizen4]

I rate Watling really a lot in Test cricket as batsman. Someone like Bairstow or even Sarfraz might be better and more consistent overall, but Watling´s strength lies in digging his team out of deep holes. Not to mention his contributions to two of the greatest partnerships in Test cricket, one with McCullum and one with Williamson, even today against South Africa his team was struggling a bit, being 193-5, and he responded with a fighting fifty.

He´s really under-rated and under-appreciated I feel.

both Bairstow and Sarfraz thrive under pressure and are capable of building partnerships as well, both are better than Watling for sure

 

[MenInG]

Underrated?

105* vs Sri Lanka, potentially a match winning innings

 

[Phantom Menace]

How close is BJ Watling to being a Test ATG?

BJ Watling has quietly been forging a very good test cricket career and I think now is the time to start asking the question about his place in the history of the game. I personally find it quite hard to judge wicketkeeper/batsmen with how the role has changed in modern times so I think it will be interesting to see how others view him.

There are a few reasons I think now is a good time to ask this question. First of all NZ are just starting a season of cricket that is set to potentially define some careers with home tests against England and India as well as an away tour to Australia.

The other factor is his age of 34. This is getting up there and NZ players don't really have a big history of going in to their late 30s. There are no more home 'marquee' tours (I.e Big 3) once this summer has passed until at least after the 2023 world cup and he is a tests only player. Either the ICC Test championship final or the Home series against Pakistan just before would be potential retirement points for BJ.



So what does BJ have going for him to be potentially regarded as an ATG?



Watling's batting definitely stands out among wicketkeepers. A current career average of 42.33 as a wicketkeeper has him placed 5th all time behind only ABdV, Andy Flower, Gilchrist and Les Ames.

Also with 7 centuries as a keeper he is tied for 4th all time behind Flower, Ames and Gilchrist.

It should also be noted that while for some batsman their average flatters them, this is not the case for Watling.

He has shown many times an ability to perform in the clutch. By the clutch I mean he tends to perform when the teams back is against the wall, or when its the final match of a series. Some examples of this include twice in world record partnerships (Once against India and the other against Sri Lanka) that turned series that looked like the would be drawn in to series wins. Also in the past 12 months he has made extremely valuable runs in series deciders in U.A.E and Sri Lanka and just today scored another century against England when England had the edge.

His defensive game is very strong and if the opposing team doesn't get him out early they are often faced with a long time in the field when the door looked ajar.

As far as performing against different teams and in different conditions his record holds up quite well.

His home average is 43.24 while his away record is 41.55
This holds up in Asia with an average of 39

The holes in his record (by wicketkeepers standards) are against Australia and India as well as in Australia, India and the U.A.E (That said he did make a critical contribution in the U.A.E that I referred to before)

The other part of batting he struggles with is when the going is easy. He doesn't destroy attacks that the specialist batsman have already put to the sword like a Gilchrist and instead will tend to get out cheaply or score slower than is ideal.



As for his keeping skills, they are strong. He is not a keeping savant like Prasana Jayawardene or like Dhoni is against spin but his rate of dismissals is very high. His keeping for the pace bowlers is very good, proving to be a valuable asset for the likes of Boult and Southee while to spinners he is also rock solid in SENA conditions. Keeping to spinners in Asia could be stronger but it is not a gaping weakness and he is usually behind the stumps to inconsistent or inexperienced spin bowlers who have never bowled in Asia. So while his batting is very good he is not one of those modern keeper batsman that has his spot in the team primarily on the basis of batting prowess like for example a Bairstow, Flower, Prior or Mushfiqur. He has been the best keeper in his country throughout.



It should also be noted that his leadership is also very highly regarded. Although he hasn't captained his team, he has the picture perfect lieutenant and been the Vice Captain for a long time now. He is very highly respected by all his team mates and the opposition for his tenacity and is the type who tries to lead by example.

This shines through in his ability to build partnerships with all types of batsmen. He can build mammoth partnerships with the specialist batting partners like Latham, Williamson and Nicholls but he can also get the aggressive 'headless chicken' type allrounders and tailenders like de Grandhomme, Southee and Boult to bat sensibly and turn the match in his sides favour. When Watling is at the crease there is always belief.

He has been a lock in the All Time NZ XI for a while now, ahead of Brendon McCullum, Ian Smith and Adam Parore. Outside of when ABdV dons the gloves I also tend to believe that he has been the premier keeper/bat for his era.

And just quickly regarding his longevity. 55 test matches may not seem like a whole lot but that actually makes him the 22nd most capped keeper of all time.

What do you think?

Can he be an ATG?
Is he already?
Or is it a leap too far?

 

[sweep_shot]

He is a good player. Nothing more.

Definitely not ATG-material.

 

[big_gamer007]

Every Tom, Dick and Harry is ATG these days?

In this era there are only 2 ATG so far Smith and Kohli. KW can reach ATG status by the time he retires.

People throw words like ATG too easily. There is a difference between a good player, a very good player, a great player and an ATG.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Not an ATG

 

[aloo paratha]

Not an ATG but still a very good player who goes unnoticed by most because he's not a quick scorer like Buttler or De Kock.

 

[Chrish]

Best since Gilly..

 

[Phantom Menace]

I must say I'm not suggesting that he is in fact an ATG keeper/bat at this point but I am curious as to where the bar lies at for a keeper batsman. It has to be lower than Gilchrist, but how much lower?

 

[Ab Fan]

He averages 39.98 after this knock. It's not 42 but definitely he is an excellent player who has been pivotal in NZ recent progress in test cricket.

Not an ATG but a NZ great. Better than McCullum in test cricket as wicket-keeper batsmen but BMac enjoyed his peak days as specialist bat in tests.So, you never know. A better comparison between McCullum and Watling it will be.

 

[Phantom Menace]

He started off his career as a part of the NZ opener merry-go-round when they were the stuck at the bottom of the rankings and later got recalled as a wicketkeeper. That's why there is a difference in the averages

 

[Saj]

The curtain is set to come down on the career of one of New Zealand’s most widely respected cricketers, with wicket-keeper BJ Watling to retire from all cricket after the upcoming Test tour of England.

The 35-year-old has been a stalwart of the Test side since debuting in 2009 as an opening batsman, going on to establish himself as a world-class keeper-batsman and claiming numerous records in his 73 Tests to date.

With the BLACKCAPS contracts for the 2021-22 season due to be released on Friday, in which Watling will not be included due to his future unavailability, his retirement news has been expedited.

The Northern Districts gloveman had been pondering his options for a while, but settled on his decision to retire at the end of the just completed home summer.

“It’s the right time,” said Watling, who has recently become a father for the second time.

“It’s been a huge honour to represent New Zealand and in particular wear the Test baggy. Test cricket really is the pinnacle of the game and I’ve loved every minute of being out there in the whites with the boys.

“Sitting in the changing rooms having a beer with the team after five days’ toil is what I’ll miss the most.

“I’ve played with some great players and made many good mates. I’ve also had plenty of help along the way for which I’ll always be grateful.

“My wife Jess has been a constant source of stability and support and I’m certainly looking forward to being able to spend more time with her and the kids. I also owe a big thanks to my mum for steering me in the right direction early on and always being there for me.

“Although I’ve had to make this announcement ahead of the tour to England, my focus is very much on the three Tests ahead and preparing to perform in them.

“This tour will be a challenge on a few levels and we know as a team we will need to be at the very top of our game if we want to succeed.”

Watling holds the New Zealand Test dismissals record with 249 catches (excluding 10 as a fielder) and eight stumpings - the best numbers of any current Test keepers.

His bowler-keeper catching combinations with Tim Southee (73), Trent Boult (55) and Neil Wagner (53) occupy the top three spots on the New Zealand record list.

Watling’s batting statistics are equally eye catching: with eight Test centuries to his name and New Zealand records for the fourth and fifth highest partnerships: 362 with Brendon McCullum against India at the Basin Reserve in 2014, and 365* with current captain Kane Williamson against Sri Lanka at the same ground a year later.

He is just the ninth Test keeper to score a double hundred and was the first to do so against England, when his Player of the Match performance helped win a dramatic Test against England at Bay Oval in November 2019. He also featured in another New Zealand record-partnership in that match as he and Mitchell Santner put on 261 for the seventh wicket.

NZC chief executive David White said Watling would be remembered for the tremendous courage and determination he brought to the game, and especially when the chips were down.

“BJ turned games around,” he said. “I can’t think of another player who reacted so positively, and who was successful in the face of adversity.

“His ability to wring every possible run out of the tail was unmatched; his work behind the stumps tireless and efficient.

“He has a quiet, unassuming and undemonstrative manner that belies the huge appetite he has for the contest and the challenge.

“BJ’s been a huge part of the success of the current BLACKCAPS team and on behalf of NZC, I want to wish him well for the upcoming Tests in England and life after cricket.”

BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead paid homage to his side’s Mr Dependable behind the stumps.

“BJ is a wonderful player and a great bloke,” Stead said.

“He works really hard on his game to get improvements and always puts the team first.

“You just have to look at the respect he’s held in by his teammates and the opposition to appreciate his standing in the game.

“The records speak for themselves and he’s been such a crucial cog in the Test team’s rise over the past decade.

“That double hundred he scored at the Mount in 2019 was one of the best innings I’ve ever seen and epitomised BJ Watling as a player, really.

“The attitude and fight he brings to every day and every session of a Test is what has made him such a valued member of the BLACKCAPS.

“He is without a doubt one of our best ever wicket-keeper batsmen.”

If Watling plays all three Tests on the upcoming tour, two against England (June 2-6 and 10-14) and the ICC World Test Championship Final against India on June 18-22, he will surpass Adam Parore’s record of most Tests as a New Zealand keeper at 67.

Watling played his entire domestic career for Northern Districts featuring in 91 First Class matches, 62 T20 games and 90 List A fixtures for the Major Association.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Wonderful wicketkeeper and a gritty and underrated batsman. Had a big role to play in New Zealand's resurgence and the monstrous home run that continues to this day. I can think of few wicketkeepers in the last 20 odd years that were as clinical behind the stumps as him. Rarely saw him ever make an error.

Undoubtedly will be missed however I feel New Zealand have a quite capable replacement for him in Tom Blundell.

 

[sindhiboy]

The most underrated keeper batsman in tests.

Was by far the best before the recent surge in performances from pant and rizwan

 

[Ab Fan]

Best since Gilly..

I concur. He is better than MSD and Prior as keeper batsman in my opinion and that means the best since Gilly.

There are three modern ODI players in keeper role with massive potential- de Kock, Pant and Rizwan.

I think Rizwan is similar to Watling. Pant will be the best batsman of the three and will surpass the runs tally of Gilly in his test career and de Kock should also take his average to 40 and go past 5000 test runs with 10+ hundreds.

 

[Hasan123]

A gutsy player who played a lot of good knocks in difficult situations. Was a solid keeper as well. Won't be easy to replace!

 

[King_Kohli]

New Zealand veteran to retire after WTC Final

BJ Watling to hang up the gloves after New Zealand's tour of England, which will culminate in the World Test Championship Final against India

BJ Watling

Tests

M: 73 | Runs: 3773 | Ave: 38.11 | 100s: 8 | 50s: 19 | HS: 205 | Ct: 259 | St: 8

First-class

M: 176 | Runs: 10017 | Ave: 38.67 | 100s: 18 | 50s: 59 | HS: 205 | Ct: 442 | St: 10

ODIs

M: 28 | Runs: 573 | Ave: 24.91 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 5 | HS: 96* | Ct: 20 | St: 0

T20Is

M: 5 | Runs: 38 | Ave: 9.50 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 0 | HS: 22 | Ct: 3 | St: 0

 

[King_Kohli]

BJ Watling has annunced that the WTC Final will be his final Test match. With three Tests left in his career only one wicket-keeper batsman in Test history has averaged more balls per dismissal than Watling.

 

[Firebat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a career! An absolute legend of the game.<br><br>Thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/B_Jwatling?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@B_Jwatling</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTC21?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTC21</a> Final | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvNZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvNZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/2jp3MkdfIQ">pic.twitter.com/2jp3MkdfIQ</a></p>— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1407760738907656194?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Saurav]

Retired too early

Good career

 

[Ab Fan]

Best keeper bat since Gilly.