text: Defiance and belief were the hallmarks of Watling's game | Hot India Report
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  Defiance and belief were the hallmarks of Watling's game
  For New Zealand, the South Africa-born cricketer was a man for crisis situations
  Bradley-John Watling takes us to the heart of New Zealand cricket — fight, absorbing pressure, changing scripts.
  New Zealand was reduced to 94 for five in the second innings and the Indian scribes were making plans for two free days with the Test heading for an early finish.
  McCullum displayed typical flair and Watling was rock solid. And the Test ended in a draw. And now Watling has bid adieu to international cricket after the Kiwis conquered the Test peak at Southampton.
  The respect for Watling, pushing 36, is enormous within the New Zealand team. No wonder he was among McCullum's favourite cricketers for his never-say-die attitude. Belief was the cornerstone of Watling's game.
  In fact, Watling began his Test career as a specialist opener against Pakistan at Napier in 2009.
  And it was McCullum's decision to only 'keep in shorter duration matches that opened the path for Watling to be a wicketkeeper-batsman in Tests.
  He grabbed the opportunity. Watling figured in 75 Tests, scoring 3,790 runs at a commendable 37.52 with eight centuries and holding 267 catches and pulling off eight stumpings.
  For New Zealand, this South Africa-born cricketer was a man for crisis situations in the middle-order. He had the priceless quality of soaking in the pressure and using it as a motivating factor.
  The super-fit Watling evolved as a 'keeper and airborne catches on both sides of the wicket were commonplace as his career wore on.