John Wright. File photo / Greg Bowker
Forget the debate over whether or not he can keep wicket, the selection of BJ Watling as the likely wicketkeeper in the test team has a lot more to it than that.
It is a positive move from John Wright because it is a step away from the traditional safety
of six batsmen, Daniel Vettori, a keeper and three quicks. It says they are selecting to win a test rather than not lose because it provides for Vettori and four other bowlers.
It is a negative move, however, because it also shows a lack of faith in the top six batsmen. I believe in the top six but my patience continues to be tested. Trying to turn Watling into a test wicketkeeper says that runs from the keeper are the most important thing right now. If there existed total faith in the top six, then the selection of the wicketkeeper would be simple; pick the best gloveman.
There's a positive spin-off from this current lack of faith. If Watling can do a capable job next week (should he play) and he is able to balance his keeping development with his test batting development, which statistically does need improvement, then he will provide an element that New Zealand has not had for some time if at all - a wicketkeeper who is a genuine batsman.
The closest we've come to that was just before Brendon McCullum decided to open the batting and stop keeping. Ian Smith and Adam Parore were great glovemen and meaningful contributors with the bat but both would agree they would not have played as a batsman alone. When Parore was a batsman alone, Lee Germon was the keeper.
