New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling is up for the challenge of playing in early season English conditions ahead of the first test beginning on Thursday.

The 29-year-old is on his first tour of the country and ranks it as one of the hardest places to keep around the world.

But he has backed his skills to prevail and hopes that his side can get the best of the two test series against the hosts.

"It's a difficult job keeping in England. The change in ball makes a big difference; it wobbles more than it does back home,” he said.

“I've played here a few times and I'm starting to adjust. But it varies. It can wobble randomly or zoom straight through.

“I did quite a bit of work with keeping coach back home, everyone's got their own theories about how to deal with the wobble here so hopefully I can work something out."

Watling’s first match as keeper came back in January 2012, a game that also saw him score his first test century.

However, after not being a full time keeper before being handed the gloves, he admits there were a few nerves before the game against Zimbabwe.

"I was fairly nervous as there was a lot of talk about the keeping and I had been on and off keeping throughout my career,” he said.

“But that Zimbabwe game was the time when Brendon decided to give up the gloves full time and bat in the middle order, it's been good to come out the other end of that period of uncertainty."

The contrasting World Cup campaigns of the sides mean that the series is all but straightforward when it comes to picking a winner.

And Watling hopes the buzz created from their run to the final can inspire more people to take up cricket in New Zealand.

"We were playing four-day cricket at the time so we would finish and get the TV on to watch the boys," he said.

"They just kept playing entertaining cricket and it was awesome to see them doing well. They made the county proud.

"The buzz around New Zealand was brilliant. I'm sure we gained a few more fans and hopefully we can grow the game from here and especially keep the kids involved.

“Rugby is obviously our number one game but hopefully we're starting to grow the fan base and maybe off the back of the World Cup we can steal a few of those rugby players who are decent cricketers too."

 

Trent Bridge hosts the fourth Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand on Wednesday 17 June. Don't miss the chance to watch England seek redemption against the Kiwis and secure your seat now.