Wicketkeeper BJ Watling is doubtful for New Zealand’s opening test against west Indies due to a hip injury.

The uncapped tom Blundell is in line for a debut if Watling is not available .

The problem has forced Watling to sit out the last two rounds of  the  new  Zealand  domestic  league  and  will  play  only  as  a  batsman  against  Auckland  this  week  in 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 is  not  able  to  take  his  place in the  squad  at  the  Basin reserve – it would be the first test he has missed since Headingly 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.