The spotlight blazed even more brightly on Shane Watson’s top-order position on Thursday after the allrounder fell 13th ball of the first Test.
Not only did he make a fifth duck in seven Gabba innings as a first-class opener, his manner of dismissal – lbw shouldering arms to a Jerome Taylor inswinger – gave further artillery to his critics.
It was also the sixth time in his last seven Test innings Watson has been dismissed leg before.
As Phil Hughes found out in England when exposed by the short ball at his body, an Australian opener can’t afford to have an obvious Achilles heel.
As Ricky Ponting is among those who believe Watson is better suited in the middle-order and there was a pre-series push for Hughes to return, debate will intensify with the former Queenslander’s Gabba woes.
Ponting wants to use him as a 15-20 over-an-innings bowler, which adds to the difficulties in mentally preparing to open the batting.
Watson has played the bulk of his first-class cricket, for Queensland and Tasmania at No.4, and is a stylish and correct stroke-player who likes to attack the ball.
But his weakness is to those deliveries aimed at the stumps, shown by the fact he’s falleN 14 times LBW and bowled in his 19 Test innings.
The swinging new ball makes him more vulnerable to those dismissals.
Mike Hussey, who started his Test career as an opener against the Windies four years ago at the Gabba, is adamant Watson can make it work for him.
“I think his technique is outstanding and can definitely cope with opening the batting,” said Hussey, who denied selectors had sounded him out over a return to opening.
“He’s shown in one-day cricket that he can definitely bat very, very well in that position and there’s no reason why he can’t do it in Test cricket as well.
“He can definitely handle that position.”
Watson’s failure also extends his disappointing record in Australia where he now averages 12 in five Tests.
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