B.J Watling was born in Durban South Africa on 9th July 1985. He is a wicket-keeper and a right-hand batsman who has been representing New Zealand for the last 16 years since 2004.

Watling has the record of having maximum dismissals behind the stumps in New Zealand cricket history. He also has reached the landmark of being the first Kiwi wicket-keeper batsman to have struck a double century in Test. Watling also has been involved in the highest sixth and seventh-wicket partnership in New Zealand batting history.

Since his school days, Watling had started showing potential. After having spent his early days in Durban Watling shifted to Hamilton in New Zealand at the age of 10-year-old. While studying at Hamilton Boys' High School the 35-year old cricketer received methodical training under the careful observation of former Kiwi Test cricketer Chris Kuggeleijin and its reflection was vivid also. Watling won Gillette Cup twice during his school days and also attained his one of the greatest achievements by making more than 200-run partnership with Daniel Boughtwood. Watling stole the searchlight of the media as well as of the cricket fraternity in New Zealand when he made a 378 run in 2008 for Hamilton Boys against Eastern Suburbs in the Hamilton senior club championship final. In the same year in 2004, Watling had donned New Zealand shirts in the under-19 World Cup. He had his debut in first-class cricket in 2004 for Northern Districts against Auckland. In the first innings, even batting at number eighth position Watling scored 37. In the second innings, the wicket-keeper was promoted to open the batting, but got out for only one run. Watling took two more seasons to settle with his poor form and in the third season in 2007, Watling placed himself as the second-highest run-scorer for his team with 564 runs at 37.60. He was in tremendous form also in the One-Day State Shield competition, amassing 509 runs at an amazing average of 63.62. The sparkling show propelled Watling to earn a place in the senior New Zealand squad. Watling has scored 9927 runs from his 171 first-class matches at an average of 39.23 including 18 centuries 59 fifties with the highest score of 205. He also has accumulated 4005 runs from his 127 ‘List A’ matches including eight centuries and 27 fifties with the highest score of unbeaten 145.

B.J Watling made his beginning in the One-Day International in the second match of the Tri-Nation series at Dambulla against Sri Lanka in 2010. Sri Lanka won the match by three wickets but Watling had an impressive 55 runs off 68 deliveries. The wicket-keeper batsman, taking part in 28 ODIs so far has scored 573 runs with an average of 24. 91. His highest run in the ODI has been unbeaten 96.

B.J Watling’s journey in Test cricket began in 2009 against Pakistan in the third Test at Napier. Watling, however, was not impressive, getting out for only 18 runs despite staying on the crease for 119 minutes and facing 69 deliveries. The Test was drawn but in the second innings Watling was quite moving, having scored unbeaten 60 in 62 deliveries, hitting nine fours. Watling has participated in 72 Tests so far and gathered 3766 runs at an average of 38.42 including eight centuries and 19 fifties and a double-century. Being the first wicket-keeper of New Zealand Watling struck a masterful 205 against England in the first Test at Mount Maunganui. New Zealand acquired a crushing victory of an innings and 65 runs in that Test.

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Watling has participated in only five Twenty20 International matches so far. He began his journey in the shortest format in 2009 against Pakistan in Dubai. He scored 22 off 36 deliveries. From his five T20Is, Watling has scored only 38 runs so far. Otherwise, he has played 67 T20 matches and amassed 1255 runs at an average of 24.60 including six fifties where his highest score has been 75.

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