Kiwi wicketkeeper Watling expecting barrage of spin bowling during Caribbean tour

Wellington: New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling is expecting a West Indian bombardment of spin bowling during the Caribbean tour, during which the Kiwis would play a series of Twenty20, one-day and Test matches.

Watling expects his skills with the gloves and bat to be tested by the slow bowlers. “I`m preparing for a barrage of spin. From what we saw when Australia toured there, and what we`ve been hearing, they [the pitches] weren`t the greatest. They were low and slow, and with a lot of turn,” Watling said. Watling was chosen this summer as the Black Caps first-choice test keeper and made his maiden Test century in that role immediately against Zimbabwe, only to miss the series against South Africa with a groin injury. “It was good for me to get out there and catch some balls, get my workloads up and just good to get outside. The injury felt really good – I tested it out a lot last week and it held up well,” Watling said. “I`ve been doing my rehab and it`s got better and better. I will definitely get a decent workout, but I`m confident I`ll get through it,” he added. Watling was named in all three New Zealand squads for the tour, which starts in Florida this weekend. ANI