A Real Unsung Hero - BJ Watling in perspective

In the past summer we have had plenty to ooohhhhh and aaahhhh about.  Brendon's 302 and 224, Taylors consistency and good form, the brave rewards given to the bowling attack.  But in all this, one key player in the team has been quietly going about his business.  BJ Watling has by and large been overlooked as to the important role he plays in this resurgent BlackCaps team.  I doubt anyone has any issues with his keeping, not flashy but dependable and I guess that's all we ask of someone that spends a good deal of time behind the stumps.  But it's not behind the stumps I am going to analyse.  It's that metre or two in front of the stumps that needs to be addressed.

BJ Watling first made his appearance in the Test team back in 2009 as an opener.  It was fair to say back in those days New Zealand cricket was looking for miracles and selections were wild and fanciful.  BJ wasn't a success (he played 1, 2, ansd 3).  He was dropped in 2010 averaging just 25.38, and seemingly lost to New Zealand cricket.  But he was given an opportunity to come back into the team in 2011/12 in Zimbabwe as a wicketkeeper that could bat (following Brendon McCullums announcement to concentrate on batting).  As can be seen by the figures to follow his batting became a mainstay of New Zealand cricket teams since, averaging in the middle order (played 5,6, mainly 7 and 8 once) at 41.71.  Now I ask you which New Zealand wicketkeeper has as high or higher average?

Anyway his test stats.

As opener or 3
Runs	Not Outs	Batting position	Versus	Home Away	Season	Comments
18		2	Pakistan	Home	2009
60	*	2	Pakistan	Home	2009
13		2	Bangladesh	Home	2010
1		1	Bangladesh	Home	2010
0		2	Australia	Home	2010
33		1	Australia	Home	2010
46		2	Australia	Home	2010
24		1	Australia	Home	2010
6		3	India	Away	2010
2	*	3	India	Away	2010
203	Aggregate
25.375	Average
Middle order
39		5	Zimbabwe	Away	2011/12
3		6	Zimbabwe	Away	2011/12
102	*	7	Zimbabwe	Home	2011/12
0		6	South Africa	Away	2012/13
42		6	South Africa	Away	2012/13
63		6	South Africa	Away	2012/13	Highest individual score by 50 runs.
63		6	South Africa	Away	2012/13	Highest scorer again
0		7	England	Home	2013
60		7	England	Home	2013	2nd top scorer
21		7	England	Home	2013
18		7	England	Home	2013
17		7	England	Away	2013
13		7	England	Away	2013	2nd highest scorer behind Wagner  (17)
103		8	Bangladesh	Away	2013	2nd highest score behind Williamson (114)
0		7	Bangladesh	Away	2013
70	*	7	Bangladesh	Away	2013	2nd Top Score behind Anderson (116)
41		7	West Indies	Home	2013/14
65		7	West Indies	Home	2013/14	2nd Top Scorer behind Taylor (129)
20		7	West Indies	Home	2013/14
1		7	India	Home	2014
11		7	India	Home	2014
0		7	India	Home	2014
124		7	India	Home	2014	World Record 6th Wicket Partnership
876		Aggregate
41.714		Average

And I have a funny feeling his record is just getting better.  I will now go away and analyse his Form in Ford Trophy, Plunket Shield and T20 comps over the last three years.  His latest two innings batting at four in Ford Trophy have been good.  Long may form be great.

Editted to add averages by New Zealand wicketkeepers since Ken Wadsworth in the 70's.

Name	Average
McCullum	38.09	Includes scores as Batsmen only
Watling	35.22	Weighted down by his opening stints.
Young B	31.78
Blain	26.82
Parore	26.28	Includes scores as Batsmen only
Smith	25.56
Edwards	25.13	Includes scores as Batsmen only
Young R	24.15
Lees	23.57
Wadsworth	21.48
Van Wyk	21.31
Germon	21.22
Papps	16.4
Hart	16.25
Hopkins	11.83