BJ Watling Doubtful For The 1st Test Against The West Indies Due To Hamstring Niggle; Devon Conway Called-In As His Cover

BJ Watling, New Zealand’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman in Tests, is in doubt for the first Test against the visiting West Indies due to a hamstring niggle.

Watling could miss the opening match of the ICC Test Championship Test against the West Indies, starting on Thursday, December 03, after BlackCaps head coach Gary Stead confirmed that the wicketkeeper-batsman picked up a hamstring niggle in the opening round of the ongoing domestic List A tournament.

Devon Conway, who topped the Plunket Shield run-scoring charts in the 2019 season where he racked up 701 runs including a brilliant triple-century, has been called-up as Watling’s cover.

However, Conway, who made his T20I debut against the West Indies, may well be trumped by Will Young as far as claiming the spot in the playing XI is concerned following the latters brilliant performance in the recently concluded tour game against the West Indies.

Meanwhile, Kiwis head coach Gary Stead has said that the team management will take a call on BJ Watling’s availability on the eve of the first Test, but the chances of him featuring in the series opener remain bleak.

The head coach further confirmed that in Watling’s absence, Tom Blundell will slot-in at No.6 and will also keep wickets, which will leave Young or Conway to battle it out for the elusive spot.