Forget all-rounders, stick to playing specialists

 
Benjamin Conkey Roar Pro

By , 7 Aug 2009 Benjamin Conkey is a Roar Pro

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Australia's Shane Watson plays a shot off the bowling of England's Graeme Swann on the first day of the third cricket test match between England and Australia at Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham, England, Thursday, July 30, 2009. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

Australia's Shane Watson plays a shot off the bowling of England's Graeme Swann on the first day of the third cricket test match between England and Australia at Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham, England, Thursday, July 30, 2009. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

One interesting aspect of this Ashes series is that none of the all-rounders have suceeded in both disciplines in the same match. When Flintoff has bowled well, his batting has eluded him. And vice-versa.

Shane Watson’s last Test was the same, with vast differences between his batting and bowling form.

In between saying ‘tw*t’ on air, Warnie described Watson’s bowling as rubbish.

Then Nasser Hussain made the ridiculous statement that Stuart Broad should always be in England’s team, regardless of his bowling, because of his batting down the order. Granted Broad can bat, but his job is to take wickets and he has been the weak link in an otherwise impressive English attack.

Hussain and Atherton also went on about how he needs more time to develop as a bowler. Apparently 20 Tests with a bowling average of 40 is not a clear enough indication.

Now back to Watson, who was selected to bolster the bowling and to provide consistency at the top of the batting order. Last Test he only managed one requirement.

My point is that it’s extremely difficult being an all-rounder, especially in Test cricket, which is why very few are successful.

So why don’t teams get back to basics and be happy to choose specialist batsmen and bowlers?

In my opinion, England would have gone close to wrapping up the Ashes now if they’d selected Ryan Sidebottom after the Cardiff Test Match. But instead they stuck with Broad because he adds handy runs with the bat.

How many runs, though has he subtracted with his bowling? He gets the odd wicket but goes for plenty in between.

Mitchell Johnson’s batting potential has probably saved him from being dropped, too. In Edgbaston, he finally found some bowling form, while finding his voice with some choice words to the batsmen.

As well as he bowled, the worry is that he still went for more than four an over.

Another semi all-rounder is waiting to put on the baggy green in Brett Lee. Peter Siddle looks like the most likely candidate to make way.

For Australia’s sake, if Lee plays, he needs to hit the ground running. In the end any ‘handy’ runs he and Johnson score with the bat won’t mean a thing if they fail to take wickets.

Watson has to at least put the brakes on when he bowls, otherwise he should just call himself a specialist opening batsman and forget the bowling caper.

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