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Watson falls short again

Roar Guru
7th January, 2015
1

Shane Watson’s repeated failure to notch up career-defining scores continued against India at the SCG on Wednesday as he again fell short of his fifth Test hundred.

The Australian No.3 looked destined to record just his fifth ton in 104 Test innings, on a benign pitch, before meekly holing out to Ravichandran Ashwin at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Mohammed Shami for 81.

Watson cut the despondent figure Australian cricket fans have become accustomed to seeing, after missing a golden chance for three figures.

After starting day two of the fourth Test on 61, 33-year-old Watson moved carefully along before pulling a rather innocuous short ball straight to Ashwin with one of the few extravagant shots he had played.

Watson could probably have booked a seat on the plane to the Ashes later this year with a big hundred.

But another chance lost on such a tame wicket will give more ammunition to his detractors who claim the allrounder’s time has passed, or that he should at least drop down to No.6 in the batting order.

In the lead-up to the SCG Test, Watson candidly acknowledged he was under pressure to score runs.

He also admitted the pressure he put on himself to succeed.

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That was all too evident as he trudged off the SCG midway through the first session, with heavy feet and low-slung shoulders carrying the weight of yet another opportunity missed.

All of Australia’s top six batsmen scored half-centuries for the first time in Test history as the home side surged to 7(dec)-572.

India’s reply was 1-71 at stumps.

Australian skipper Steve Smith top scored with 117 and praised Watson’s contribution to the cause.

“I thought Shane played a terrific first innings.”

Watson’s failure to convert starts is shown in his 23 half-centuries.

He has scored 3630 runs in 56 Tests at 35.94.

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