Watling picked up an injury in the opening round of the Ford Trophy.
New Zealand has named Devon Conway as an injury cover for the wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling after the latter suffered a hamstring niggle before the opening Test of the two-match Test series against West Indies starting December 3 at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
Watling picked up a “hamstring niggle” in the opening round of their domestic List A tournament on Sunday and that put him in doubt for the first Test against the West Indies.
However, the New Zealand team medical staff is assessing the 35-year-old and will take a final call on his availability tomorrow (Wednesday), but head coach Gary Stead has hinted at the fewer chances of him making to the game having already named Conway as his cover on Tuesday, December 1.
Conway has earned the maiden call-up to the Test side on the back of his fine debut series in the T20Is against West Indies and spectacular performance in the domestic cricketer – where he topped the run charts in the 2019 Plunket Shield season with 701 runs, including astounding 327*, as well as, topping in the ongoing Plunket Shield season with 410 runs at an average of 58.57.
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However, Conway’s Test debut is in doubt as he will have to compete with Will Young for a place in the XI if Watling is ruled out especially after his stunning show in the tour game for New Zealand A.
Stead said at a press conference on Tuesday: “We have another injury cover here. Devon Conway is here as injury cover for BJ Watling. He has a hamstring niggle that he picked up yesterday or the day before, whenever it was his last Ford Trophy match.”
The coach further added, “He was being assessed as I walked across over here. So the first time we've managed to get the physio in front of him. So once I hear more from that I will know but I'm guessing tomorrow we'll make the call of whether he's a chance or not.”
Gary has also confirmed that Tom Blundell would slot in at No.6 and keep the wickets for the hosts against the West Indies at Seddon Park if Watling ruled out of the first Test on December 2.
Conway may have to wait for his Test chance as head coach said Young is the favorite to open alongside Tom Latham in the first Test against Jason Holder and his team at home.
(With AFP Inputs)