New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling to retire after World Test Championship final on England tour

New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling said he took the decision in order to spend more time with his family. Watling, who has represented New Zealand in 73 Tests, will retire after the World Test Championship final, starting June 18 in Southampton.

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling has announced he would be retiring from international cricket after the three Tests, including the World Test Championship final against India, on their upcoming England tour. Watling, 35, has played 73 Tests, 28 ODIs and 5 T20Is for the BlackCaps. @B_Jwatling in his own words on retiring from all cricket after the @ICC World Test Championship Final in June against India. Watling will leave the game having represented New Zealand more than 100 times and @ndcricket 243 times. #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/isrgA6aoTy — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) May 11, 2021 BJ Watling has been one of the pillars of the current New Zealand side led by Kane Williamson. The 35-year-old played an integral role in their rise to the top, scoring 3773 runs, including 8 hundreds, in 73 Tests. Watling became just the 9th wicketkeeper to hit a double hundred and the first to hiit a double against England when he did so in Bay Oval in 2019. Watling has been involved in two 350-plus stands, one with Brendon McCullum in 2014 against India and the other with Kane Williamson the following year.