New Zealand gloveman BJ Watling out of penultimate career Test with sore back

BIRMINGHAM: New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling's swansong hit a jarring note on Thursday after the 35-year-old was ruled out of the second Test against England due to a sore back.

The Test match at Edgbaston, which began on Thursday, was expected to be the penultimate of his career, as he looks to retire after the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India.

"BLACKCAPS wicket-keeper BJ Watling is a late withdrawal from the second Test against England in Birmingham, after failing to overcome a sore back," said a statement from New Zealand Cricket.

"The injury has troubled Watling in the past and although it has improved in the past 24 hours, it hasn't improved enough to be confident of him getting through a full Test behind the stumps," added the statement which also confirmed that Tom Blundell, who has played 10 Tests, replaced him as the wicketkeeper.

Watling could recover for the WTC final but if Blundell does well at Edgbaston, the veteran might have already played his last match.

He had announced last month that he would quit international cricket after the tour of England. IANS

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