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May 1, 2011Posted on 05/01/2011 in Australian Cricket
The rise and rise of Watson
From Brad Hinds, Australia
Among the many players who have drifted in and out of the Australian side over the past few years, Shane Watson is one of the few who have solidly remained
© AFPShane Watson may best be described today as the product of a 'long-term investment plan’ by Cricket Australia. It’s been an interesting development for Cricket Australia, whose managerial and administrative decisions over the past few years have become increasingly dubious and contentious. Very few have paid off. In Watson's case, the returns have been exceptional.
Watson always had respectable first-class batting and bowling figures, but the first few years of his professional career on the international stage playing for Australia were plagued with a seemingly insurmountable array of problems. Primarily, there was little confidence in Watson’s longevity. He was continuously hampered by injuries between 2005 and mid 2009 (ranging from stress fractures and hamstring problems). Even more problematic, there was little confidence in his ability to make valuable contributions in the batting order despite his useful medium-pace bowling. In his first 13 Test Innings – spread sparsely between 2005 and the middle of 2009 when he alternated between sixth and seventh in the batting order - Watson scored 257 runs at only an average of 19.7 with a solitary half-century.
He had a solid but noticeably exploitable technique, and Watson had a tendency in the early stages of his career for being trapped lbw. Of course, these forgettable performances (and subsequent injuries, evidently) were easily overlooked when Australia’s normal line-up consisted of great players performing at their prime; Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn. Watson was only ever a substitute. He was never called in as a permanent replacement.
But since the retirement of those players (with the exception of Lee in ODI’s), Watson was a key figure that Australia seriously needed to consider in trying to rebuild the team. Watson had Test experience, and this was an advantage when mulling over the many players available who had no international experience at all. When Matthew Hayden retired in 2009, someone had to take his place. The decision, therefore, to give Watson the opportunity to open the batting with Simon Katich – with his apparent fragility and flawed technique - was understandably met with harsh criticism and deep apprehension. It was a precarious gamble; one whose result could be decided only by Watson.
The result? Years of hesitation and apprehension has given way to profound respect and admiration. Despite the myriad of reasonable concerns since that decision, Watson has developed into an enviable cricketer, and one that Australia simply couldn’t be without. Through the tribulations – physical, mental, social – he has emerged perhaps as one of the world’s most complete international allrounders. The board’s faith in him and the guidance of Ricky Ponting, who Watson credits as being a large contributing factor in his development as a professional cricketer, has paid off.
Indeed, when you consider how far he’s come and the extent of his current achievements, his story is almost a romantic one. He is a fighter – a typical Australian quality. Whereas other cricketers in his position may have buckled under the pressure, Watson did not. Rather, the criticism seems to have propelled him to perform above and beyond even the highest of public expectations. Among the many players who have drifted in and out of the Australian side over the past few years, Watson is one of the few who has remained. He has never been in any danger of losing his spot since receiving it. He has embraced the new role that he plays, despite it having been foreign.
As vice-captain, a promotion he only just recently acquired since Ponting stood down and Michael Clarke took over, he is already a leader in every facet of the game. As a batsman, he is the very embodiment of the modern cricketer; an obvious product of the increasing importance placed on the shorter formats of the game. He is powerfully built, relies more on brute strength as opposed to delicate timing, and is very versatile. He is shaping to be an outstanding fielder despite his bulky physique, and he is exceptionally handy as a medium-pace bowler who frequently takes wickets.
He has shown the capacity to adapt well to changing conditions around the world and especially with regards to the differences between cricket formats. On the field he can be a force to be reckoned with. He is both very aggressive and completely dominating. Watson has rarely been bogged down by bowlers. That said he is also a very humble player. When off the field he maintains a calm and collected disposition, and he appears to be both quiet and oddly gentle.
Since he gained the opening position in Tests, he has scored 1696 runs at an average of 50 with 14 half-centuries, two centuries, and a top score of 126. On the ODI scene especially, Watson has even more impressive figures and is becoming an increasingly feared individual across the world with his ability to dominate the scoring from the get-go on almost any pitch and against any opposition. Between 2002 and April 2009 Watson scored a total of 1263 runs across 36 innings at an average of 35 with a top score of 126. In 2009, he scored 1013 runs across 20 innings at an average of 50.6 with a top score of 136 not out. From 2010 to today he has hit 1589 runs at an average of 48 with a top score of 185 not out. (Click for Watson's career summary in Tests and ODIs.)
The frequency at which he scores fifty or more has increased over the years. In Tests he scored only one half-century between 2005 and 2009. In 2009, he scored six half-centuries and one century. In 2010 he scored eight half-centuries and one century. In ODIs he scored seven half-centuries and a century between 2002 and 2009, an average of one per year. In 2009, he scored three half-centuries and as many centuries. In 2010 he scored seven half-centuries. In 2011 he has already scored five half-centuries and two centuries, including that knock against Bangladesh.
Despite his accomplishments, Watson isn’t free of criticism or ridicule. His tendency to fall after getting himself in, persistently plagues his batting. His particular tendency to get out in the 90s has been the source of much humor in the cricket community. That is a phase that he will probably grow out of as he settles even more comfortably into his role as opening batsman. The run won’t last forever – the runs won’t always keep coming. But if Watson maintains his positive approach to his game, there’s no doubt he’ll continue to be a defining symbol of Australian cricket for many years to come.
Posted by: Lourens Grobbelaar at May 1, 2011 10:46 AM
Australia must maybe thank Rajasthan Royals for showing them what Watson could do as opener. Thank goodness for Aus cricket, otherwise their situation would have been even worse off.
AB De Villiers also had a tendency to go out after fifties and not going through to centuries often enough. It seems he has grown past that, so I am sure Watson can too.
Posted by: Drew at May 1, 2011 1:08 PM
Surprisingly, the article failed to mention that the reason Watson was continually retained after each injury is that Ponting had so much faith in his potential. A potential that has manifested now. In fact, Ponting's support, even up to the 2010 Ashes, was vital to his development.
Posted by: Kumar Babu at May 1, 2011 4:31 PM
I am very happy to see Watto playing unjury free with great success in the international arena. After he bowed out with yet another injury in the 2007 world cup I thought he was done and dusted. He seemed fragile and incapable of lasting for an entire series leave alone an entire season. The success he had in season I of the IPL gave him a new lease of life.
The Aussie selectors gave him another chance and he hasn't looked back ever since. To the author's point about Watto getting out in the 90s - yes, that is true but one must remember that he is a makeshift opener at best. He can open and do a decent job as a replacement for an injured or out of form opener for 2-3 matches. But he cannot be the opener forever as it is too much of a burden for him. I would pick Marsh as opener and push Watto to #5 or #6 where he can shore up the middle order, which has been Australia's achilles heel of late. This will also allow Watto to bowl a bit more than he does now. Good luck Watto, you rock!
Posted by: vivek at May 1, 2011 5:46 PM
true dat watson has at least been a cnsistent pener fr the aussies ,but the nly fact haunting him wud be his conversion rates ................far too many 50's and lesser 100's
Posted by: japdb at May 2, 2011 1:58 AM
The selectors (coaches) have done a good job in eventually finding him a spot but they really mucked him up trying to make him a fast bowler/batter al la Keith Miller when he was just a good medium pacer and a batter like Doug Walters in his younger days. He kept breaking down trying to bowl 140 km.
Posted by: arpit at May 2, 2011 2:25 AM
Indeed it was Ponting who figured out the talent in Watson but equal credit must be given to Shane Warne who brought back the confidence in him.
Posted by: redneck at May 2, 2011 4:37 AM
@Lourens Grobbelaar i dont think cricket australia will ever thank an ipl team for anything! just exposing our players to injuries that might not have otherwise! he had already made his test debut by the time the ipl rolled up, and the last thing any aussie is going to look at when selecting a test team is ipl circus form!!! watto is about the only thing in australian cricket to come up gold in the last couple of years, very lucky to have him in our ranks! if only a couple more would start helping him out!
Posted by: Anonymous at May 2, 2011 10:09 AM
great player, thanks to ponding because of,punter made him complete cricketer./
Posted by: Ace at May 2, 2011 11:18 AM
@Lourens Grobbelaar - Wrong. Warne's the person you're talking about.
Posted by: mumback at May 2, 2011 4:58 PM
@redneck.. Thats Hypocrisy from Aussis if they do not give credit to IPL for reforming watto's career ...in fact it was IPL stint with Rajasthan where watto came full moon ,and it did wonders for him.
Posted by: cool_engr at May 2, 2011 10:23 PM
Tendulkar was late middle order batsman in ODI so was Jayasuria so was Sehwag and Watson but they all have become the greats the moment they were presented with opportunity.......................That is talent for you ................not like Duminy of Rohit Sharma who are given best places in batting order and they still cannot perform.................This shows that selectors all around the world have recently been very stupid to not evaluate batting talent....They just appreciate bookish technique like that of Dravid which is obsolete one and is useless. ..............India eventually got rid of overrated Dravid and they won the WC.
Posted by: redneck at May 2, 2011 11:45 PM
@mumback no, im faily sure you cant just make the australian test team without preforming? therefore already he put results on the board before your 20/20 micky mouse stuff came along! what next? should we thank the ipl for uncovering shaun marsh even though he was already playing for western australia and a son of a former test player? let me tell you 20/20 has absolutly no baring on test cricket! and if it does in india, then indias stay at no. 1 will be incredably short! what good is form in 20/20 on sub continent dust bowls when your looking for a test opener in and an away ashes test? as far as national selection goes the ipl deserves NO CREDIT! it only detracts from international cricket, it certainly doesnt help it!
Posted by: mvcric at May 3, 2011 1:46 AM
Cricket Australia would do well to thank the first edition of the IPL and particularly Shane Warne for the complete turnaround in Watson's fortunes and self-confidence.
Posted by: Meety at May 3, 2011 4:54 AM
@mumback - where's the hypocrisy in what redneck said? Dispute what he said but if you are going to use BIG words use them correctly! LOL!
Watto has been in the 1st class mix in Oz for over 10yrs. Thanking the IPL for Watto being a very good cricketer is plain wrong. What is wrong with your mental state that you need to be patted on the back for hosting a lollipop competition? Talk about INFERIORITY COMPLEX! LOL!
Love for you to explain how the IPL improved Watto's technique, improved his fitness & mental condition. Hmmm?
Posted by: Looch at May 3, 2011 5:22 AM
He's taken a long time to get where he is now, personally I still think he has a bit of a way to go in the Test arena and the fact he is now 30, but he is improving and I hope he proves me wrong.
@mumback that's hubris from yourself if you think 27 games of shake and bake cricket makes a player even if he did "come the full moon" whatever that means!
Posted by: avinash at May 3, 2011 6:11 AM
WATTO is the real deal among the all rounder impostors a la razzak..afridi..(whos not good even at batting or bowling)...
Posted by: Ashok Sridharan at May 3, 2011 10:36 AM
Shane Watson is a curious mixture. So far, he has indeed repaid the selector's faith in him and to that extent I agree with the writer. On the flip side, he pretty much symbolises what's wrong with Australian cricket currently: too many starts and no big scores. While he has given countless good starts, he has also failed to capitalise on them- something the likes of Hayden/ Langer seldom failed to do in the heady noughties.
I guess the jury would have to be out on Watto.
Posted by: Sahil at May 3, 2011 1:12 PM
If there wasn't an IPL , Watson himself would forgot that he was a cricketer in the past . 100% credit must be given to IPL & warne who gave a new watson to cricket australia .
Posted by: vatsa at May 3, 2011 6:18 PM
australia discovered deadly opener in him after 2008 IPL, in which he opened innnings for Rajastan Royals, Again it was great Warne who brought the best out of Watson but not ponting, Under ponting he was not so dangerous middle order batsmen.
Posted by: Abhishek Roy at May 4, 2011 8:11 AM
Shane Watson was the find of Rajasthan Royals and Shane Warne...Nowhere in the article did they mention it....half baked story..
Posted by: Looch at May 5, 2011 12:26 AM
@Vasta, Watson was opening ODI innings by the Champs trophy in 2006, 2 years before IPL exisited and 1 year before BCCI took 20 over cricket seriously!
Posted by: Anonymous at May 5, 2011 1:03 PM
yeah i think credit goes to rajhistan royal n not cricket australia as they are the first who believe that watson can open the inning.
Posted by: Meety at May 6, 2011 6:31 AM
@Abhishek Roy - don't you mean Shane Warne was the "find" of Rajasthan Royals???? LOL! LOL!
@Looch - yes,yes! Also he'd been playing 1st class cricket long before that too!
Posted by: sasun sharma at June 22, 2011 5:50 AM
watson is one of the finnest cricketers of the world. his comeback in international cricket after a long way has amazed all the cricket lovers across the world. watson, keep on moving ur future in the international cricket is so good. there are a lot of things which are to be done by you that enable all urs critics to praise u.
Posted by: sabin parajuli at July 20, 2011 11:58 AM
never give up watson!!!! u can give the best example of playing so fluently,aggresively,responsiblyand of course confidently .
again best of luck for your career.go on go rocking
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