Cricket: Fulton dropped for third test

Peter Fulton has paid the price for a poor run of form. Photo / Getty Images

South African-born batsman BJ Watling is poised to make his test cricket debut in the series finale against Pakistan in Napier from Friday after joining the squad today at the expense of Peter Fulton.

Watling, 24, is the only change in a 13-man squad named for the third test as New Zealand's selection panel moved to partially remedy a batting unit guilty of under-performing in Dunedin and Wellington.

Watling opens the batting for Northern Districts and is also capable of filling a position in the middle order.

He could replace an out-of-form Tim McIntosh and form a new opening partnership with Martin Guptill or be a straight swap for Fulton at No 5.

Fulton's comeback to test cricket was unspectacular - 42 runs at 10.5 and memorable for his duck in the second innings at Dunedin when he failed to request a review of his leg before wicket dismissal despite suspecting the ball had hit his bat.

McIntosh retains his place in the squad despite scoring 37 runs at 9.25. Flynn, 57 runs at 14.25, and Guptill, 75 at 18.75, have also been persevered with.

Long identified as a player for the future, Watling made his New Zealand debut during the Twenty20 component of the Pakistan tour last month in the United Arab Emirates.

Watling, who made his first class debut in 2004-05, pushed for selection thanks to compelling form in the current Plunket Shield four-day competition - 241 runs at 80.33 including scores of 90 and 136.

Tours to Australia and India with the Emerging Players and A teams during the New Zealand winter also indicated the right hander and capable wicketkeeper was in contention.

"He's a quality young player with good technique," selector Mark Greatbatch said.

Although New Zealand were beaten by 141 runs in the second test at the Basin Reserve inside four days yesterday - principally because they made only 99 in their first innings - Greatbatch said widespread changes were never likely.

"There was a lot of discussion about the batting line-up, but this was not a time for wholesale change. We are aiming to give guys the opportunity to succeed," he said.

Black Caps squad
Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Grant Elliott, Brendon McCullum, Daryl Tuffey, Iain O'Brien, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin.

- NZPA