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Shane Watson has just given Australia’s selectors a big headache after his second century in two games – bought up with two consecutive sixes, no less – secured the Champions Trophy for Australia.
Watson has been long supported by Ricky Ponting, and throughout his injury riddled career, the selectors have continued to pick him when fit.
And it seems that 2009 may just be his year.
He travelled with Australia for the Ashes series and was afforded an opportunity after the English pace bowlers found a supposed weakness in wonderkid Hughes’ technique.
There was much discussion whether to stick it out with Hughes or give Watson – a genuine all-rounder, but not a recognised opener – a chance.
The selectors opted for change – probably with the 2005 Ashes series in mind where they stuck with a lineup and relinquished the Ashes – and Watson didn’t disappoint. In his five innings at the top of the order, he averaged an impressive 48, but didn’t manage to turn any of his starts into a century.
He retained the position for the ODI game against Scotland and the seven game series against England, averaging 27.62 with the bat. But it was his 13 wickets at 19.62 which was of particular value to the Aussie attack.
Then came the Champions Trophy just a week or so later, with barely any time to work on any problems he may have been having in the nets.
He subsequently failed twice with the bat again, to be on a streak of 4-0-0-0, and the calls for change were coming again. Indeed, it was probably only his bowling and injuries to other players that were keeping him safe.
His 24 in the game against Pakistan didn’t do him much good, either. But then something clicked and a few days later he’s averaging 47.77 as an opener (better than Hayden, Gilchrist and Mark Waugh) on the back of two unbeaten centuries.
This has presented Australia’s selectors with their first “nice headache” since the infamous mass exodus of retirees.
The question is now, not only where to play Watson, but also in what role?
His injury fraught past has been well documented, and it is this aspect which the selectors and indeed the captain and coach must weigh up every time he is picked.
For too long, it was assumed that the “big strapping lad would come good,” and this is obviously never going to be the case. He is injury prone and will be for the remainder of his career, but we’ve now seen what he can deliver if he is kept fit.
So what to do with Watson?
It’s been a long time since Australia had a genuine fast bowling all-rounder. Watson is capable of batting anywhere in the order and bowling first change at 140 km/h – a rare luxury in the game of cricket.
In the past, all-rounders have tended to bridge the gap between the batsmen and the bowlers coming in at 7 or 8. But I see Watson at 5 in ODI’s, much like Andrew Symonds.
The scary thing is, Watson is a better cricketer than Symonds.
Roy was a good slogger, but was often found out with the bat and was never much more than a handy bowler, while Watson is good enough to bat anywhere in the order and could – when at his best – hold a spot down as a specialist bowler.
Only in fielding can Symonds claim to be superior and that’s only due to his own amazing abilities as Watson certainly is no slouch.
Bowling? Well, this is the important part as it’s this aspect of his game that has caused him so many problems.
If Ponting can get 6 overs out of Watson in an ODI, Michael Clarke should be able to take the other 4. Any bowling he does should be seen as a bonus, not a requirement for his selection.
In Tests he should bat at 7 with a solider, run-accumulator in at 5, and when bowling, he must be used sparingly – one 5-6 over spell per session, no more.
He may be an excellent bowler but he is not Jacques Kallis. For Australia to get the best out of him, they must accept his limitations.
If his workload is managed correctly and he can stay fit, in conjunction with Mitchell Johnson, Australia may have just have two star all-rounders that will take them to a fourth straight World Cup and regain the Ashes.
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