Watling shocked by Black Caps call
BJ Watling is still coming to terms with his inclusion in the New Zealand squad for their limited-overs series against Pakistan next month.
The South Africa-born opening batsman was the only new face in the 15-man party for the three one-day and two twenty20 internationals to be played in the United Arab Emirates.
"It was quite a surprise. I can't wait. I'm still a little shaky," he said of his selection.
Strong domestic one-day form - where he scored 509 runs in 11 one-day games for Northern Districts - plus plenty of runs for the New Zealand Emerging Players and New Zealand A during the southern hemisphere winter trips has paid off for the 24-year-old, who will also provide wicket-keeping back-up for Brendon McCullum during the series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
"My form is there, but I thought maybe not just yet," Watling told the New Zealand Herald. "But I got a call about a week ago to prepare, so I thought I had a good chance."
New Zealand captain and selector Daniel Vettori said the tour would be seen as a chance for Watling to get a taste of top-level cricket.
But it is expected that Aaron Redmond, who was called in for the Champions Trophy when Jesse Ryder (abdominal tear and adductor strain) was injured, will retain his opening spot alongside McCullum.
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Others to benefit from the injury-enforced absence of Daryl Tuffey (broken hand) and Grant Elliott (broken thumb) are Tim Southee and Scott Styris.
Styris was called to South Africa as cover when Elliott was injured but did not play, while Southee last featured in limited-overs internationals against Australia and India earlier this year.
But spinner Jeetan Patel, who was in the Champions Trophy squad, was not so fortunate, losing out to Nathan McCullum as the second spinner because of the latter's superior batting skills.
New Zealand leave for Dubai on October 27. The first of three one-day internationals is on November 3 November in Abu Dhabi.
The series closes with two Twenty20 internationals on November 12 and 13 in Dubai, before both teams travel to New Zealand for the three-Test series.
The series was originally due to take place in Pakistan earlier this year but was postponed and switched to the UAE following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore in March.
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