IND vs NZ: Watling hoping his 'one hell of a journey' ends with WTC high

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman B J Watling is hoping to end his "one hell of a journey" in international cricket with a triumph in the World Test Championship final against India beginning here on Friday.

Watling is set to play his 75th and farewell Test after recovering from a back injury that made him miss the second Test against England last week.

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I'm just looking forward to playing another test match. It is an exciting one, and I'm certainly pretty pumped to be in the final. I'm just going into it how I do with every other test going through the processes of trying to win a test match," the 35-year-old was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz.

 

Watling made his debut in 2009 and few years later established himself as a batsman in the middle-order.

He is thankful that he did not have any major injury issues in his long career.

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"I think as a cricketer you have the odd niggle every now and then. The back, it's been pretty good to be fair for most of my career.

"There's been a couple of instances when it's just played up a bit, but I think you learn how to manage those types of injuries, and I'm thankful that I haven't been majorly injured over my time.

"I've certainly enjoyed the time I have spent with this team playing cricket for New Zealand. It's been a hell of a journey."

New Zealand last week won their first Test series in England in 22 years by outplaying the hosts at Edgbaston.

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It's obviously a massive opportunity to win a title, but I think what we've been doing leading into this, winning the games at home this summer, and then obviously winning a test series against England, it's certainly been fantastic.

We'll try and do our best and try to carry on the form that we've been playing in for a reasonably long period, Watling added.