BJ Watling
BJ Watling seized the day and probably his place in the New Zealand test side for the summer with 84 runs and a brief but flawless wicketkeeping display at the Harry Barker Reserve yesterday.
The trial test gloveman steadied the New Zealand XI's initial slump and looks to have cemented his spot for the test against Zimbabwe - and probably the three against South Africa. Watling was run out pushing to mid-on and running on his own call. He was sent back by Tarun Nethula but could not make his ground.
The 26-year-old had settled in quickly on what became a tame, grassy wicket, with the New Zealand XI teetering at 59 for four.
Unless he makes a shambles with the gloves - and there were no signs of that in the few overs bowled at Zimbabwe yesterday - he will get coach John Wright's backing as the Kiwi mentor takes a selection punt in the afterglow of the win over Australia in Hobart.
To Watling's credit, he adjusted seamlessly to test mode despite five matches of razzle-dazzle HRV Cup over the past month. His left elbow was high, he stroked the ball crisply in the extra cover-backward point arc and he was a wall in defence.
Wright - who began his first-class career with three summers in Gisborne flatting on Wainui Beach with former captain Geoff Howarth - was satisfied watching the performance.
"We were a bit rusty at the start but BJ, Sam [Wells] and Dan [Vettori] played well," said Wright. "Primarily we were just looking for batsmen to spend time at the crease.
"We'll look closely at BJ behind the stumps against the slow bowlers; he's capable of keeping wicket, don't worry about that, but we've got to see how he goes."
Watling was happy with his batting: "The nerves were fine. It was good to get out there and hit a few balls. It was a case of getting back to leaving the ball well and playing safer. The pitch was a fraction spongey in the first session but flattened out as the sun baked it and came on to the bat well at the end."
He looked at home behind the stumps, gloved the ball cleanly and his initial, instinctive movements behind the stumps made it feel that he had the credentials to keep wickets in a test.
Watling himself, however, was more circumspect assessing 14 overs of glovework where he did not accrue any byes.
"It's a matter of gloving it nicely when the second day starts. If I'm ready, I'm ready, but Krugs [Kruger van Wyk] is perfectly capable of taking the gloves as well."
Of the non-test players, Otago's Sam Wells made the most impact with 65, combining with Watling for a 125-run sixth wicket partnership in 32.2 overs. The left-hander has an upright stance with a high backlift and, like Watling, a penchant for keeping offside fieldsmen employed. Indeed, it proved his downfall when he was caught at deep cover.
After featuring at the team development camp in September, the 27-year-old now gets a chance to impress Wright.
If he does, his name is a selection prospect in a demanding test-playing year with visits to the West Indies, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
"I thought Wells was sharp," Wright said. "He went to camp in Australia two years ago but hasn't had a lot of cricket for Otago because he's not in their limited overs sides. I know he can bat but I'm also interested in his bowling as a work-in-progress player who is prepared to fight hard."
Nethula gets a chance to shine today on a wicket which, if the bowling of Zimbabwe's Graeme Cremer was any judge, didn't get much purchase. He seems to have overtaken Jeetan Patel on Wright's speed dial should Vettori get injured or need spinning reinforcement.
That's provided he can continue his form through the remainder of the Plunket Shield. If so, Wright says he's likely to be picked for tours this year and possibly at home this summer.
"He'll get his opportunity [in this match]," Wright said. "We'll learn a bit more about him because Zimbabwe are used to spinners and play them well. It's a good test. There's not a lot of turn in this wicket so far. We're hoping there might be a bit more on the last day like we struck with the practice pitches."
A debut at Napier for Nethula next week looks out of the question.
"A bit of grass is expected there," Wright said. "That won't help his chances but there are other wickets to bear in mind like [against South Africa] at Hamilton and the overseas tours to the sub-continent and the Caribbean."
Among the other medium-to-long term test hopefuls, Michael Bracewell was adjudged LBW for a duck in the third over while a Kruger van Wyk miscued hook saw him exit for five; Neil Wagner bowled two overs for four runs.
Wright was impressed with Brent Arnel who conceded 10 runs in three overs: "He's gained a yard of pace in recent times and you should see his performance plans. That bloke is organised and disciplined.
"All those things help this squad. You want as many players as possible creating competition so there are no comfort zones. We're trying to build depth. These games are not a reward. They're a chance for those who we think might have more potential than perhaps at first glance."
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