New Zealand Cricket (NZC) had the uphill task of replacing their talismanic wicket-keeper batsman Brendon McCullum in all forms of cricket.
However, the likes of BJ Watling and Tom Latham tried to fill the void in the team to the utmost, post-Baz’s retirement.
Watling has shone with both bat and gloves in the longest format of the game. Whereas, Latham and Tim Siefert have shared the duties in the other formats.
Now, Watling named the most challenging bowling duo he has faced in his career thus far.
“When it’s turning in India it’s obviously very tough to play any spinner, really. The likes of [Ravichandran] Ashwin and [Ravindra] Jadeja, if conditions are in their favour, it is extremely hard work to score runs in itself, and to not get out,” Watling told Espncricinfo.
In the last decade, there has been hardly any touring batting lineup which has been able to upset the bowling pair of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The two off-spinners have scalped 578 together in Test cricket.
The finger-spinning duo has utilized the spin-friendly conditions in India, helping build a solid fortress for their team at home.
Moreover, Watling also found facing the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel equally stiff in the past, especially in conditions in South Africa.
The South-African pair had upset several visiting batsmen with their pace, steep bounce, and movements in the air and off the seam.
“But facing guys like Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel in South Africa, that’s a pretty tough challenge. I think they have some of the quicker wickets in the world and obviously it cracks up late in the games. And those types of test matches can be very daunting, with those types of bowlers coming at you,” the stumper added.
Coming to Watling’s numbers, in the 70 Tests featured in, he has amassed 3,658 runs. The 35-year old has smashed 17 fifties and seven tons, with the best of 205. He was also named in the ICC Test Team of the Year, for his impressive performances in the 2019 season.
