David Leggat: Praise for BJ Watling's attitude

New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling dismisses Sri Lankan Dimuth Karunaratne. Photo / Getty Images

Wicketkeepers tend to fall into two broad categories.

You have the stroppy, lippy sorts, and Australia's recently retired Brad Haddin leaps to mind as chairman of this group.

Then there are those who go about their business in an unfussy, less yappy way.

Encouraging, yes, stirring the pot, no. The present Australian gloveman Peter Nevill is a prime example.

Put BJ Watling in the latter camp, too.

He took six catches in Sri Lanka's first innings, equalling his previous best effort in a test, and went past 100 dismissals, the fourth New Zealander to that mark.

But Watling is a deflector of any opportunities to talk up his game. He's very much of the "bowlers have to bowl the ball, I just have to catch them" school of self-assessment.

However Tim Southee felt no reticence on heaping praise on his Northern Districts' team-mate.

"He's the type of guy you love to have in your side. He'll graft away and loves a battle," senior seamer Southee said last night. "I think BJ works exceptionally hard, not only on his keeping but on his batting as well. He's always striving to get better.

"The keeper's obviously a massive part for a bowler. We get the accolades for the wickets, but it's quite often not only BJ but the rest of the fielders as well.

"Brendon [McCullum] speaks about it being an attitude, fielding. The keeper sets the standard and BJs set a hell of a standard over the last couple of years."

Only Ian Smith, with seven catches in an innings, by chance also against Sri Lanka at Hamilton in the 1990-91 season, has more dismissals in an innings than Watling, who has now taken five or more on five occasions, overtaking McCullum's mark.

"He's turned himself into a world-class keeper-batsman," Southee said. "For someone who started his career as a test opener to now be arguably the best keeper-batsman going around the world in test cricket is no mean feat."

Southee was also a central figure in a tense moment yesterday, when a bouncer struck the back of batsman Rangana Herath's helmet.

It took several minutes for the veteran to resume his plucky innings, coping with plenty of short-pitched bowling from Neil Wagner and Southee.

Ever since the tragedy of Australian Phil Hughes, who was struck on the back of his neck and died last summer, it has become a highly sensitive issue.

"It's never nice when you hit someone and it's nice to know he got through it all right and carried on batting," Southee said. "He was playing so well on the front foot we had to try something different. We went with the short ball for a few overs."

That is, a legitimate tactic which, ultimately, paid off when Herath hooked Wagner to be caught at fine leg.