BJ Watling had announced his retirement from cricket after the WTC 2021 Final.
Watling, 35, has announced his decision to retire after the tour of England, played in the first Test against England at Lord’s but missed the second one in Edgbaston due to a sore back. But he was picked in the playing XI for the WTC 2021 Final, which is his farewell match as well.
Watling, who made his New Zealand debut in 2009, has played 74 Tests (before the WTC 2021 Final), 28 ODIs, and 5 T20Is in his career making 3789, 573, and 38 runs respectively. He has 8 Test hundreds to his name including the highest score of 205. He holds a New Zealand record of 257 wicketkeeping dismissals, including 249 catches.
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The 35-year-old Watling has been one of the unsung heroes of New Zealand’s recent rise through test ranks. He began in 2009 as an opening batsman and part-time wicketkeeper but became New Zealand’s preferred gloveman in tests when Brendon McCullum gave up that role in 2013.
Virat Kohli was seen shaking hands with Watling and uttering some words to the keeper-batsman.
This touching and sporting moment had the fans gushing and they reacted on Twitter.
Here are the tweets: