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Shane Watson’s form as a Test opener is so good that it won’t be long before he’s monstering bowling attacks like a “gladiator”, in the style of Matthew Hayden.
That’s the view of Justin Langer, the Australian assistant coach who combined with Hayden to form the second-most successful Test-opening duo in the game’s history.
Watson made his Test debut five years ago, but injuries have dominated his career.
In his past nine Tests since his 2009 Ashes recall, the 28-year-old has scored 849 runs at 56.60 and claimed 13 wickets at 29.61 with his medium-pacers.
Again injury has cursed Watson, missing last week’s first Test against New Zealand in Wellington because of a thigh strain.
Watson has resumed running and team physio Alex Kountouris says the opening batsman and medium-pacer is on track to resume playing in Saturday’s second Test at Hamilton’s Seddon Park.
Four times in six Tests this summer against West Indies and Pakistan, Watson reached the nervous nineties.
Only once did he get to triple figures, scoring 120 not out at the MCG against Pakistan after being dropped on 99.
Even in this month’s one-day series against New Zealand, Watson hit 45, 47, 15, 32 and 53 and hardly played a false shot, without getting a big score.
Having played more than half of his Tests in the past eight months, Watson feels his career is just getting started.
Langer can fully understand Watson’s desire to cash in and start getting big hundreds.
“When you throw the balls to him, you cannot believe how pure he hits the ball,” Langer says.
“What he does in the nets, he’s doing out in the middle. It’s extraordinary really.
“Of course he’d love to get a big hundred.
“He’s a bit like Matthew Hayden.
“He’s perhaps not as tall but just that big gladiator sort of figure.
“If he’s coming at the ball, hitting the ball hard like Haydos used to do, it’s a great body language to have against the opposition.
Watson has only scored one century in 17 Tests.
“It would be nice to be able to get a few hundreds and a few bigger hundreds, actually going on with it and making the most of the way I’m hitting the ball,” he said.
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