Wellington: New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman B J Watling on Wednesday announced that he will end his over-decade-long career in all forms of cricket after the World Test Championship final against India next month.
New Zealand will also play two Tests against hosts England before the WTC final against India in Southampton from June 18.
The 35-year-old has been a stalwart of the Test side since debuting in 2009 as an opener, going on to establish himself as a world-class keeper-batsman and claiming numerous records in his 73 Tests to date. The Northern Districts gloveman had been pondering his options for a while.
“It’s the right time,” said Watling, who has recently become a father for the second time, in a New Zealand Cricket statement.
“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.”
The announcement of Watling’s retirement was also expedited by his expected omission from the player contracts list, to be released on Friday.
“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,” he said.
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.
