BJ Watling is all set to hang his gloves after World Test Championship Final against India in Southampton. He announced his retirement from all forms of cricket before the commencement of the England Test series, which New Zealand won by 1-0. Watling said he enjoyed his time as an international cricketer and ending it with a triumph in WTC Final will complete ‘one hell of a journey’.
Watling played in the first Test against England before injuring his back, which eventually ruled him out of the second game at Edgbaston. The WTC Final will be his 75th and last Test match.
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“I’m just looking forward to playing another test match. It is an exciting one, and I’m certainly pretty pumped to be in the final. I’m just going into it how I do with every other test, going through the processes of trying to win a test match,” the 35-year-old was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz.
Watling made his debut back in 2009 and took few years to establish his feet in the middle order. He is thankful that he didn’t suffer any major injury issue throughout his career.
“I think as a cricketer you have the odd niggle sometimes. The back, it’s been pretty good to be fair for most of my career. There’s been a couple of instances when it’s just played up a bit, but I think you learn how to manage those types of injuries, and I’m thankful that I haven’t been majorly injured over my time,” he added.
“I’ve certainly enjoyed the time I have spent with this team playing cricket for New Zealand. It’s been a hell of a journey.”
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New Zealand will come in the WTC Final after defeating England in their own den, which they achieved for the first time since 1999.
“It’s obviously a massive opportunity to win a title, but I think what we’ve been doing leading into this, winning the games at home this summer, and then obviously winning a Test series against England, it’s certainly been fantastic,” he further added.
“We’ll try and do our best and try to carry on the form that we’ve been playing in for a reasonably long period.”
