| BJ Watling Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft |
| Weight | 76 kg |
| Date of Birth | July 9, 1985 |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
BJ Watling is a New Zealand international cricketer who started playing for Northern Districts in December 2004. In his career records, he had the most dismissals by a wicket-keeper for the country New Zealand and was part of the highest 6th and 7th wicket partnerships in Tests.
Born Name
Bradley-John Watling
Nick Name
BJ
Sun Sign
Cancer
Born Place
Durban, Natal Province, South Africa
Nationality
Education
He attended Hamilton Boy’s High School.
Occupation
Cricketer
Manager
He self-manages himself.
Batting Position
Right-Handed
Bowling Position
Right-Arm Off Break
Role
Batsman, Wicket-Keeper
Build
Athletic
Height
6 ft or 183 cm
Weight
76 kg or 167.5 lbs
Race / Ethnicity
White
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Thin Lips
- Thick Eyebrows
BJ Watling Facts
- He was first coached by former Test cricketer Chris Kuggeleijn while attending Hamilton Boy’s High School. At that time, he won the Gillette Cup twice and played in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2004.
- One of his biggest achievements at Hamilton was being able to contribute to a 200+ run partnership with Daniel Boughtwood. He had quite an impressive records back in Hamilton. In the 2008 Hamilton senior club final, he scored 378 for Hamilton Old Boys in a match against Eastern Suburbs.
- On December 6, 2004, he made his first-class debut for Northern Districts in a match against Auckland in the State Championship. As a wicket-keeper, he scored 37 in the first innings while batting number eight. In the 2nd innings, he was promoted to open the batting with Nick Horsley and was dismissed for one run.
- Although he played as a wicket-keeper for Northern Districts in his first 2 first-class during his debut, the team originally wanted Watling to play as an opening batsman.
- In late December 2004, he made his List A debut against Wellington in the State Shield. Watling opened the batting with Llorne Howell and was dismissed after the 2nd ball without scoring a run.
- He was selected in New Zealand’s team to play a One Day Internation (ODI) and Twenty20 International series against Pakistan held in Abu Dhabi and Duba in October and November 2009. Watling failed to make it to the ODI series but he made his international debut when he kept wicket in the first Twenty20 International which New Zealand lost by 49 runs.
- On August 13, 2010, he made his ODI debut in a match against Sri Lanka in the 2010 Triangular series. Watling opened the batting and top-scored for New Zealand with 55 runs from 68 deliveries in a three-wicket defeat.
- In 2015, he was a stand-in captain for Black Caps for the tour against England. During the first test, he suffered an injury that hindered him from keeping behind the wickets in the 2nd innings and most of the first innings on the field, which eventually led him to be moved to the outfield. With this, his gloves were then passed to Tom Latham. In the second test, he played as a no.8 batsman with Luke Ronchi which marked his test debut behind the wickets, making him the first New Zealand player to ever score a century at Headingley.
- In terms of performance, he has the best averages and high scores in Basin Reserve. He also tends to often score more individual runs whenever the team is not doing well in the game.
Featured Image by BJ Watling / Instagram
