Cricket: Watling's match-winning qualities make worldwide impression

BJ Watling and Brendon McCullum.

The numbers are increasingly impressive and the opinion of his coach is unequivocal.

"I think he's the best test wicketkeeper in the world at the moment," Mike Hesson said yesterday.

"And that's not just me. Experts from around the world who watch a lot of cricket think he's as good as there is going around and I certainly concur."

Watling snared another eight catches in the 186-run belting of the West Indies in Jamaica this week - three of them notable takes, including the one to finish the match off Sulieman Benn's bat from Kane Williamson's offspin - to maintain a rousing run of success with the gloves.

His first innings 89 also helped push New Zealand past 500, and maintain a fine recent series of first innings scores. Getting beyond 400 in the first innings is something of a mantra for the New Zealand side. They've managed it in six of their last eight tests and only once, the 192 against India at the Basin Reserve in February, have they had a genuine first innings fumble.

Those who call for Watling to be pushed back up to the top of the batting order to compensate for Peter Fulton's misfirings are out of luck. Watling is ensconced at No 7, he's succeeding there and there is no desire to use him as an opening problem solver.

Watling tends to be low-key when discussing his own game. His philosophy is from the "I only have to catch it" school.

But senior bowler Tim Southee appreciates the value of Watling's work; so does Hesson.

"He's the sort of guy who doesn't like the limelight; just goes about his business," Southee said. "He's probably the hardest trainer in the team, the last guy to leave the nets whether batting or keeping and he's just reaping the rewards for what he's done for a number of years now. He's turned himself into a genuine keeper and one of the best going around."

Of leading test keepers, Watling's average of 3.2 catches per test is better than all others except Australian veteran Brad Haddin's four.