Cricket: Watling rewarded for one-day form

BJ Watling. Photo / Getty Images

News of his elevation to the New Zealand one-day team was still sinking in for BJ Watling last night after his inclusion in the squad for a five-match series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates next month.

Strong domestic one-day form has paid off for the Durban-born 24-year-old - christened Bradley-John - who arrived in New Zealand when he was 10.

"It was quite a surprise. I can't wait, I'm still a little bit shaky," Watling said last night while having a celebratory dinner with his family.

The Northern Districts opener rattled up 509 runs in 11 one-day games last summer - second only to the prolific Mathew Sinclair - and at a third-best national average of 63.62.

He got good runs for the New Zealand Emerging Players and New Zealand A teams on overseas trips during the winter months. Watling made his ND debut in 2004-05 and his name has been mentioned in important circles for some time as a player the selection panel had their eyes on.

"My form is there, but I thought maybe not just yet," Watling said.

"But I got a call about a week ago to prepare, so I thought I had a good chance."

Watling will also provide wicketkeeping cover with the selectors having opted not to take a second specialist to the UAE.

"This tour is a good opportunity for Watling to get a taste of top level cricket. We believe he's got strong potential as a top order batsman," captain and national selector Dan Vettori said last night.

There is a recall in the 15-strong squad for fast-medium Tim Southee - another beneficiary of the one-day trips to Australia and India during the winter - who has probably pipped Iain O'Brien, and got a break through the injury-enforced absence of Daryl Tuffey.

Opener Aaron Redmond, called in for the Champions Trophy for the injured Jesse Ryder, rightly holds his spot and two other players are welcomed back.

Offspinner Nathan McCullum, whose see-saw battle with Jeetan Patel for the second spin job behind Vettori continues, and veteran batsman Scott Styris, who joined the squad as a late replacement at the Champions Trophy, are in.

Four players were not considered because of injury: Ryder (abdominal tear and adductor strain), allrounder Grant Elliott (fractured right thumb), medium pacer Brendon Diamanti (stress fracture right shoulder) and fast-medium Tuffey (fractured bone in right hand).

In addition, Vettori and allrounder Jacob Oram, both battling hamstring strains, will have fitness checks ahead of the team's October 27 departure for Dubai.

"It's disappointing that we will be without some key players but our campaign in South Africa showed there's depth in the squad, with a number of players available to step up and perform," Vettori said.

The tour is a home series for Pakistan on two counts, one practical, one emotional.

It is a replacement venue for the country's cricket team as no one will tour Pakistan for the foreseeable future on security grounds, and they will enjoy far greater support and find the conditions more to their liking.

The trip consists of three ODIs in Abu Dhabi, starting on November 3, and two Twenty20 matches on November 12-13 in Dubai.

The teams then return to New Zealand for three tests.

THE SIDE

New Zealand squad to play Pakistan in three ODIs and two Twenty20 matches next month:

Dan Vettori (c), Brendon McCullum, Aaron Redmond, Martin Guptill, BJ Watling, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Neil Broom, James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum, Ian Butler, Tim Southee, Shane Bond.