Cricket: Wicketkeeping spot under scrutiny

BJ Watling took on the wicketkeeping spot tonight for Northern District. Photo / Getty

The pressure on wicketkeeper Reece Young to retain his place in the New Zealand side for this month's test match against Zimbabwe intensified today when BJ Watling was given the gloves for Northern Districts in a domestic T20 match.

Young's place has come in to question after New Zealand coach John Wright hinted recently he may pick only five specialist batsmen to play the African nation on January 24, to go alongside the returning Daniel Vettori, a wicketkeeper and four seamers.

That would mean whoever is picked to play behind the stumps would need to contribute with the bat and Young only mustered scores of 0, 9, 2 and 11 not out on the recent tour to Australia.

Watling boasts a superior first-class batting average of 33.07 to Young's 30.58 and kept wicket for ND against Wellington in an HRV Cup encounter at the Basin Reserve, despite regular Northern Districts gloveman Peter McGlashan being fully fit.

Northern beat Wellington comfortably by 34 runs today, but Watling declined to speak to media after the game.

ND coach Grant Bradburn tried to hose down speculation that Watling was requested to take the gloves by Black Caps' management so they could see the 26-year-old in action.

"No, not at all. We just feel that BJ's got those skills and could do that job at a higher level and we just want to give him that opportunity to show the New Zealand selectors the quality keeper he is,'' Bradburn said.

"We feel we've got two quality keepers in our midst. Obviously Pete McGlashan has had the gloves and is a proven performer behind the stumps. But we do feel that BJ's got the opportunity to force his way in to the next level with the gloves and we are about winning trophies and producing Black Caps. So we wanted to give him that opportunity and it's not the first time we've given him an opportunity. But I guess it's tough for BJ because he's got such a quality keeper in Peter ahead of him. But when the opportunity presents itself we want to promote both of them.''

Watling travelled to Australia for last month's tour but was unused in either test match; in six tests as a specialist batsman, where he has predominantly been used as an opener, he only averages 24.5 with a top-score of 60 not out against Pakistan.

Young holds a test average of 24.14 from five tests since his debut last year, following Brendon McCullum's decision to give up the gloves in the longer form of the game.

The timing was certainly convenient though, today's game marked the first time during the HRV Cup campaign that Watling was picked to wicketkeep.

He took a sharp catch early on from the bowling of left-arm seamer Trent Boult, but Watling's day was blotted slightly when he dropped a skied catch late in the game.

It didn't change the outcome of the match, but wouldn't have given Wright any reason to put a line through Young's name if the national coach was watching.

After winning the toss and batting first Northern made 162-7 from their 20 overs thanks to 53 from Kane Williamson and 29 from McGlashan.

Ironically, Watling wasn't required with the willow as he was pushed further down the order during Northern's innings and McGlashan was the wicketkeeper-batsman who stood out.

He dispatched Mark Gillespie for three sixes and a four during the final over of ND's innings with some audacious stroke play.

Wellington then became the first team of the HRV Cup campaign to be ruled out of contention to make the final as they were rolled for 128 in the 19th over.

ND's next match is against Central Districts at McLean Park on Saturday, while Wellington meet Canterbury in Christchurch on Sunday.