Bradley-John "BJ" Watling (born 9 July 1985) is a South African-born former New Zealand international cricketer. A right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper, he represented New Zealand in Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket and played domestic cricket for Northern Districts. Widely regarded as one of New Zealand's most accomplished wicket-keeper batsmen, Watling holds the national record for most dismissals by a wicket-keeper in Test cricket.
| Full name | Bradley-John Watling |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 July 1985 |
| Place of birth | South Africa |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Role | Wicket-keeper batsman |
| Domestic team | Northern Districts |
| Test debut | December 2009 |
| ODI debut | August 2010 (approximately eight months after his Test debut) |
| Test wicket-keeping role | From 2012 |
| Retirement announced | May 2021 |
Watling was born in South Africa and later represented New Zealand at the international level. In domestic cricket, he was associated with Northern Districts.
Watling made his Test debut for New Zealand in December 2009. About eight months later, he made his ODI debut for the side.
In 2012, Watling took on the role of wicket-keeper in the Test side, a position he occupied for the remainder of his international career.
In May 2021, Watling announced that he would retire from cricket at the conclusion of New Zealand's tour to England, which included a Test series and the final of the 2019–21 ICC World Test Championship. New Zealand won the final in June 2021, and Watling ended his playing career on that high note.
Watling's career is notable for transforming the wicket-keeper batsman role for New Zealand. His combination of dependable glovework and the ability to score heavily down the order — including double-century innings and record partnerships — made him a central figure in New Zealand's emergence as a top Test side, culminating in their World Test Championship triumph.
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