New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced former wicketkeeper-batter BJ Watling as the new batting coach of the Test team. He will replace Luke Ronchi, who has been working in the role.
Watling is currently coaching Northern Districts Men and will join the New Zealand support staff on November 16. He will initially work with Ronchi during the transition before taking full charge of the batting coach role.
BJ Watling Set to Take Over as New Zealand’s Test Batting Coach
Watling will formally begin his role when New Zealand travel to Australia for their four-match Test tour. He has a lot of playing experience having played for New Zealand, Northern Districts and Durham teams in first-class cricket.
The ex-player played a total of 178 first-class games and scored more than 10,000 runs in his career including 18 hundreds. His experience in the Test format and first-class cricket can be useful for the New Zealand batsmen.
After the announcement was made, Watling expressed his happiness about starting this new journey in his coaching career. He expressed his eagerness to work with the players and make a positive impact on the New Zealand Test side.
“I’m incredibly excited. To come back into the team and work with this current group is a special opportunity and one I don’t take lightly. What this side and the support staff have achieved together over recent years has been remarkable, so I’m looking forward to contributing to a world-class side,” Watling was quoted.
Furthermore, New Zealand Cricket Chief High Performance Officer Daryl Gibson also backed the signing of Watling as the Test side’s new batting coach. “BJ has proven himself in a coaching capacity with recent stints at Wellington and Northern Districts and he has excellent relationships with many of the current squad. He’s comfortably one of the most respected modern BLACKCAPS and his approach to his playing career is synonymous with the identity of the side,” said Gibson. “We’re very excited for him to start with what will be aa massive few months of cricket for the Blackcaps,” Gibson said.