Wicketkeeper BJ Watling is a doubt for New Zealand's opening Test against West Indies due to a hip injury with the uncapped Tom Blundell in line for a debut if Watling is not available.
The problem has forced Watling to sit out the last two rounds of Plunket Shield matches for Northern Districts. He will play as a batsman only against Auckland this week before what will effectively be a fitness test against Otago at the end of the month where he will have to keep wicket to be available for the first Test in Wellington on December 1.
If Watling can't take his place at the Basin Reserve - it would be the first Test he has missed since Headingley against England in 2013 - it would likely mean a first cap for 27-year-old Blundell ahead of handing the gloves to one-day keeper Tom Latham. Blundell has previously played one T20I and has been included in the New Zealand A side to face West Indies in their warm-up match from November 25.
espncricinfo