New Zealand drops Fulton for Napier Test

NAPIER - New Zealand middle-order batsman Peter Fulton has paid the price for a poor run of form. He has been dropped from the national squad for the third and final Test against Pakistan.

South African-born batsman B J Watling has been included in the squad in his place and is poised to make his debut in the series finale, reports the NZPA.

Watling, 24, is the only change in a 13-man squad named for the third test as New Zealand’s selection panel moved to partially remedy a batting unit guilty of under-performing in Dunedin and Wellington.

Watling opens the batting for Northern Districts and is also capable of filling a position in the middle order.e could replace an out-of-form Tim McIntosh and form a new opening partnership with Martin Guptill or be a straight swap for Fulton at No 5.

Fulton’s comeback to test cricket was unspectacular - 42 runs at 10.5 and memorable for his duck in the second innings at Dunedin when he failed to request a review of his leg before wicket dismissal despite suspecting the ball had hit his bat.

McIntosh retains his place in the squad despite scoring 37 runs at 9.25. Flynn, 57 runs at 14.25, and Guptill, 75 at 18.75, have also been persevered with.

The Black Caps squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Grant Elliott, Brendon McCullum, Daryl Tuffey, Iain O’Brien, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin. (ANI)